A Call Out for Wearable Art Entries

Unleash your creativity over this Summer and be part of something extraordinary in Gisborne. We’re calling on students, adults, creatives, makers, dreamers, and first-timers to enter the Wearable Arts Fashion Awards at the Hospice Tairāwhiti Long Lunch.

In 2026, Hospice Tairāwhiti is holding a community fashion event encouraging our local community to get creative! A long lunch fundraiser at the Vines will feature Tairāwhiti’s own Wearable Arts Fashion Show.

This is your chance to design and model something bold, beautiful, or outrageously imaginative, all while supporting a cause that really matters.

• Amazing prizes to be won!
• Major prize: 2 tickets to WOW in Wellington.
• Winners will showcase their creation live at the Hospice Long Lunch on 28 March 2026 – either modelling it themselves or selecting their own model.
• Open to all levels and all ages – school children and adults.

There are 3 Categories. Each Category has a theme (see details below) – and in honor of our Hospice Shop and our love for recycling, we’ve thrown an extra challenge in there –  Every creation must incorporate recycled textiles and fittings as much as possible.

• We ask that you think outside the box – think wearable ART, not just recycled fashion.
• Yes, you can enter multiple entries.

You can download your entry form here or Email Kenzie to request your entry form.

Your completed entry form and photos will be due by the 1st MARCH 2026. 

Your completed entry forms WITH a minimum of 5 photos of your creation on your model or yourself, are to be emailed to Kenzie for the first round of judging (official judges to be announced). Last day for completed entry forms and photos is March the 1st, 2026.

 kenzie@hospicetairawhiti.org.nz 

This is a chance to get creative over Summer, and to WIN some exciting prizes! Open to all ages and all skill levels. 

The category details are:

1. All Ages – Theme: ‘Festival World’ – Prize: Two Tickets to WOW ( the real one).
2. Secondary 13 – 18yr olds – Theme: ‘Extravaganza’ – Prize: $500 Bernina Voucher.
3. Primary 5 – 12yr olds – Theme: ‘Circus Circus’ – Prize: $250 Bernina Voucher.

There will also be a People’s Choice Award!

T’s & C’s

• The artwork must be wearable, and your model must be able to navigate a runway & steps up onto a stage.
• All work must be your own original creation. You will be required to provide in your application form a small blurb about the meaning and concept of your artwork.
• All textiles and fittings must be secondhand – that’s right! In honour of our Hospice Shop that provides us with 25% of our funding, we support the recycling and repurposing of all textiles. If you can’t do ALL – try for at least 80%. 
• Designers can submit multiple entries. We will require in your application a minimum of 5 photographs of your creation being worn by your model (not a mannequin) and taken from different angles.
• Those selected in the first round of judging , applicants can model their own creations or will need to provide & dress their own models to wear the creation down the cat-walk on the 28th March.
• All entries must be designed and predominantly created by the applicant.
• Your creations should also be artworks – think big – this isn’t your standard fashion show.
• Any lights or mechanisms must have batteries supplied and be safe for you or your model to wear.
• Judge’s decisions will final.
• In your application you will be required to provide an artist’s bio, a title for your artwork, and state the materials used and where the fabrics and fittings were sourced from.

Let your creativity shine this summer for Hospice Tairāwhiti! 

Any questions feel free to email  kenzie@hospicetairawhiti.org.nz 
Kenzie will get back to you in the New Year 2026.