An Alaskan carpenter's 17th Century ball gown made entirely of wood has won the top prize at the World of WearableArt (WOW) awards in Wellington.
David Walker's Lady Of The Wood was comprised of mahogany and lacewood with 52 strips of maple and cedar veneer for the hooped skirt and a wig made from wood shavings.
It was the first time an international artist had won the top award , as the winners of the 21st WOW were announced in Wellington's TSB Centre tonight .
Along with supreme award, the gown won the avant garde section.
It was Walker's third year in the show and 10th making wearable art.
Judge Max Patte said Walker's design was a "beautifully executed" original design which worked on every level.
"Once again, it raises the game and expectations for next year's WOW."
Designers entered 165 garments in seven sections: graffiti art, magic gardens, super heroes, dancing cowboys, charming creatures from the dark and a parallel universe.
WOW founder and director Suzie Moncrieff said there was no sign of a recession at the awards show, with 37 designers from all over the world attending.
"It was very exciting for an international designer to win, reflecting how truly global the event has become."
First time Wellington entrants, Hayley May and Fiona Christie were runners-up in the supreme award and won the creative excellence section, themed fold, with their intricate garment, Second Skin.
The piece, designed by the film-maker and architect, resembled a reptile as it sheds its skin.
Timaru artist Sarah Thomas won the Weta award for the second year as well as the open section with her piece, American Dream, modelled on the 1950s car.
Other awards went to designers from New Zealand, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Music and comedy duo The Topp Twins performed, as did hip-hop dance group Legacy artist and percussion group Strike.
Judge Tsai Kang Yung, an Asian television personality, said: "I wish every design student from around the world could get the chance to see this show, to see how powerful the creative mind can be."
Winners:
Supreme: Lady Of The Wood, David Walker, United States.
Runner up: Second Skin, Hayley May and Fiona Christie, Wellington.
First time entrant award: Lagarus Ovatus En Masse, Catherine Anderton, Wellington.
Special awards:
Student design: Bound, Gina Digirolamo and Lindsey Eisentraut, United States.
Runner up: Multi-Plug, Ragini Ahuja and Rishabh Rhode, India.
Sustainability: Queen Adelaide, Emma Whiteside, Wellington.
International: Saddle Up, Mary Wing To, United Kingdom.
Runner up: Screen Play, Amy Jean Boebel and Sue Hobby, United States.
Weta: American Dream, Sarah Thomas, Timaru.
Runner up: Wanderer, Sue Cederman, Motueka.
WOW factor: Firebird, Susan Holmes, Auckland.
Section winners
Children: The Dandelion Clock, Tracey Koole, Auckland.
Runner up: My Big Bloomer, Paula Rowan, Wellington.
Commended: Miro, Miro, Quite Contrary, Norelle Kendrick, Nelson.
Illumination illusion: Into Thin Air, Marie Gant Roxburgh, Christchurch.
Runner up: Wanderer, Sue Cederman, Motueka.
Commended: Psychedelic Symphony, Janice Elliott, Christchurch.
Man unleashed: Sir Lazyboy, Cassandra Bowe, Nelson.
Runner up: Colour Blind, Dinah & Mark Walker, Auckland.
Commended: Da Vinci's Dandies, Heather Wallace, Wellington.
Open section: American Dream, Sarah Thomas, Timaru.
Runner up: Lagarus Ovatus En Masse, Catherine Anderton, Wellington.
Commended: DaVina, Frank Strunk III, United States.
South Pacific: Rock On In The Shadowlands, Janet Bathgate, Nelson.
Runner up: Tikini, Gillian Saunders, Nelson.
Commended: Tidal Traveller, Rita Schrieken, Paraparaumu.
Avant garde: Lady Of The Wood, David Walker, United States.
Runner up: AM I I AM, Rodney Leong, Auckland.
Commended: Saddle Up, Mary Wing To, United Kingdom.
Creative excellence: Second Skin, Hayley May & Fiona Christie, Wellington.
Runner up: Behind Closed Doors, Kathryn Preston and Angie Robinson, Christchurch.
Commended: Screen Play, Amy Jean Boebel and Sue Hobby, United States.
NZPA