Garments from WoolOn’s past winners and contestants will provide a splash of colour and texture at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery until November 6.

The items on display will be rotated making it worthwhile for visitors to drop in several times during the exhibition.

The WoolOn Creative Fashion Event, which makes the connection between fibre, art, and glamour, has been a long standing feature of the Central Otago event scene.

Designers, sponsors and friends of WoolOn gathered on Tuesday night (October 18) for a special viewing of the current collection on display. It also served as a reminder of how much the event has achieved in recent years.

The past year has been tough for the WoolOn community thanks to Covid-19 and the departure of some key committee members. 

Earlier this year the remaining committee decided not to go ahead with the full fashion event in 2022. Instead, they have earmarked 2023 as the year for the event to make a comeback after rebuilding and refocusing.

“The current display serves as a reminder to people that Wool On is still around and highlights past entries,” designer liaison Jamie Richards said. 

“The plan is to be back bigger and better in 2023.”

Entries come from around New Zealand and 80 per cent of the visible garment must be made of wool. No other similar competition in New Zealand has a purely wool focus.

From 2023, WoolOn will again become an annual event showcasing Central Otago, the fabulous qualities of wool, and artists from Aotearoa. 

The WoolOn committee is actively recruiting sponsors and helpers for the future. WoolOn committee secretary Sue said there’s no need to be artistic or creative to contribute. 

“Anyone willing to give a hand is welcome.”

If you want to be part of an amazing local event that adds value to the region the WoolOn organisers would love you to get in touch ([email protected]).