13 Sep 2025

Fifi Colston: 30 years of WOW

From Saturday Morning, 11:16 am on 13 September 2025

The World of WearableArt competition is set to kick off in the capital next week.

Wellington designer Fifi Colston has been entering since 1995. This year marks her 30th and - she says - final year entering WOW. 

Fifi is an illustrator, writer, costume and props maker. Susie Ferguson visited her in her home studio to discuss 30 years of WOW.

(PHOTO: Andi Crown)

World of WearableArt, 2017. (PHOTO: Stephen A'Court)

The 2022 Supreme WOW Award Runner-up and Aotearoa Section Winner: Fera Dei by New Zealand designers Fifi Colston and Bruce Mahalski. (PHOTO: Fifi Colston & Bruce Mahalski)

WOW - World of WearableArt 2022. Wellington, NZ. Awards presentation 30 September. Photo credit: Stephen A’Court. (PHOTO: Stephen A'Court)

Fifi Colston's WOW entry 2023 is called Pupu Rangi’s Feast (PHOTO: 2023 Mark Tantrum)

World of Wearable Arts in Wellington, 2022. (PHOTO: Andi Crown)

Fifi Colston has illustrated more than 30 books. (PHOTO: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone)

(PHOTO: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone)

(PHOTO: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone)

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