New Zealand's largest arts show opens in Wellington this week with media from Australia, the US and China among the 47,000 people attending.
Tourism New Zealand says it is working to maximise the exposure for New Zealand from the World of WearableArt Awards Show (WOW), which runs from September 27 to October 7.
"WOW provides the opportunity to showcase creative talents which is a unique hook to attract media to come to New Zealand," says Catherine Bates, general manager brand and international public relations.
International media attendees will be taken to Nelson, the home of WOW, and will travel to Marlborough before heading to Wellington for the WOW show. They will then go to Dunedin to see the Off-the-Wall exhibition. The exhibition of garments from earlier shows is touring New Zealand.
WOW is sold out. This year, 58 of the 164 costumes are by international designers, with six from China and 10 from the US.
Garment designers can enter seven sections with three prizes per section. Total prize money is in excess of $100,000.
The show lasts for two hours and has no intermission.
Facebook posts ahead of the event included "can't wait, will be a great girls' weekend" and "bucket list for sure".
The Sunday Star-Times reported that an entry in the bizarre bra category is made of wood and features a thorn through a foot. The creator is a man paying tribute to his wife's battle with cancer.
The first WOW show in 1987 was in a hall in front of 200 people.
NZN