Sewing up the competition

In 1995 Fifi Colston’s friend Sylvia asked her if she’d heard of a competition in Nelson that challenged artists to make wearable art pieces. She decided to enter the World of WearableArt (WOW). Now, thirty years later, she is stepping back. In that time, she’s entered 30 separate art pieces across various categories and won 13 awards including two runners’ up to the Supreme Award.

The Wellington local is one of WOW’s most celebrated alumni and yet is still very humble about her successes. “There are four entries that didn’t make the cut — I don’t mention that too often but realise it’s good for young designers to know that you don’t always succeed and have to keep trying.” Consistently coming up with winning designs is a tall order. Fifi puts it down to never being led by the materials but rather the story. “Finding a thousand bottle tops at the dump shop is not going to inspire me. I want to be a storyteller.” Talofa Lava, her 2014 WOW entry, is an example. Fifi and her partner were holidaying in Samoa when they came across an old lava flow that had destroyed a colonial-era church. “The lava had formed an untouched bubble around the grave of a prominent chief’s daughter. The locals said it was bypassed because she was so pure. I went back to our fale and I started sketching furiously”.

Fifi originally studied Visual Communications and Design at the former Wellington Polytech. That led to a career in commercial illustration and design for advertising agencies. It’s still the mainstay of her business along with illustrating and writing children’s books. Designing wearable art pieces for WOW satisfies her need to physically make things. “Much of my work is digital, sitting in front of a computer tapping away. WOW allows me to immerse myself in the tactile”.

This year, the inspiration for WOW is GLO! It will see imagination run riot across six sections of high-voltage entertainment. Fifi is looking forward to the 2026 spectacle. Despite not entering this year she is still very connected to the community through PowWows — a group of previous or current WOW entrants based in Wellington. “We meet regularly, share stitching if deadlines are looming, and cheer each other on — I can’t wait to see what they come up with at Glo!.” 

WOW celebrates its 39th birthday in 2026, the last 21 of those years have been in Wellington. Fifi puts its longevity and continued success down to the creativity of artists, WOW’s drive, and Wellington’s springtime vibrancy. “Every year you think it can’t get any better and then everyone knocks it out of the park. The city buzzes with packs of people wandering around.” Not being part of the buzz this year is mitigated by a commission for an intricately embroidered wedding jacket for a client in Los Angeles. But is she retiring from WOW entirely? “Well, they’re celebrating 40 years next year, bringing back the children’s section, and I do have an attic full of fabric… it’s so tempting.”