Students at Brightwater School have been immersed in an inspiring project that combines compromise, creativity, bravery, and local history - all centred around the incredible story of the World of Wearable Art (WOW), which began in a small cottage just down the road in Spring Grove in 1987.
Students worked over 10 weeks to design and construct their very own WOW-inspired garments. The project was timed to coincide with the iconic event, which has since grown into a world-renowned spectacle after moving to Wellington in 2005.
Kirsten Powick, lead teacher of the WOW project, says the process was challenging but hugely rewarding.
“The kids’ pieces didn’t always work out the first time, so they’ve spent a lot of time and effort redesigning at different points along the way,” she explained.
“This kind of hands-on, creative learning isn’t available at every school — it’s awesome we can offer it here.”
Year 5 student Isla Holani described the project as “really fun.”
One of the biggest challenges her team faced was deciding who would model their finished garment. “Everyone wanted to!” Isla laughed.
In the end, the group turned to a classic game of rock, paper, scissors to settle it — with Isla winning the role of model.
Year 6 student Brooke Helliwell found the experience “fun and interesting,” but admitted the group work came with its own hurdles. Brooke said trying to communicate and agree on ideas was hard, as everyone had different visions.
For students who weren’t the model, there was another challenge: public speaking. Each group was responsible for presenting the story and creative vision behind their garment to the entire school, along with families and caregivers attending the showcase.
“It was really out of their comfort zone,” says Kirsten. “But so rewarding for them to be brave and rise to the task.”
In the end, the project wasn’t just about making wearable art — it was about building resilience, working together, readjusting, and celebrating creativity in all its forms.
