Judging Criteria
Entries are judged 'on the catwalk', as the garments are paraded. Judging will take into account:

• Creative ideas in the use of fabrics
• Workmanship
• Imaginative ideas
• Well executed construction technique
• Wearability, colour and design
• Judges may request a closer inspection of the garments once off the catwalk.

Glenys Mann
Wearable art is using the body as an art form to adapt any skill and any idea. You do not have to have an art degree, you need to have the compulsion to make something from your dreams or your nightmares!

The forms that are made for wearable art shows, do not have to be practical, they do not have to fit into the 'commercial sector', they have but one requirement.. to be wearable!

Artists can resist the demand of "couture culture" and concentrate on the abstract form.

Chris Nightingale
Chris Nightingale is a multi award-winning creator of wearable art. Her costumes have not only been around Australia, they have traveled to South East Asia and to New Zealand where she is represented in the World of Wearable Art museum in Nelson.

Her inspiration comes primarily from the forces of nature - colours that appear naturally as well as the elements of earth, wind, fire and water. She excels in stylizing fabrics, beads, feathers and all types of textiles and objects of interest to bring out the full effect of each reaction.

She states 'wearable art has allowed me to express my own interpretation of undefined creativity. Following no rules and without constraints, working in any medium and exploring within only the limitation of my own imagination. I love the challenge.’

Peter Tiller
PETER TILLER creator of the HEADLINES image in his salons in Alice Springs and Hervey Bay is not simply one of Australia’s leading and prize-winning hair stylists. Peter is a collaborative artist working with well-known textile artisan and garment designer, Philomena Hali, to make collections of wearable art, hair design and make-up that create a canvas of the model. Peter is dedicated to the development and promotion of Alice Springs as a dynamic place with style and pizzazz.

Judith Ritchie
Qualifications: Diploma Fine Arts, Sculpture Major 1979, School of Fine Arts, Canterbury University, Christchurch New Zealand Diploma Teaching, Christchurch Teachers College, Christchurch NZ

Background: Co-ordinator & tutor Costume Design Studio, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson NZ from 2000 until end of 2005. Specialist tutor on programme training students as costume designers for film, theatre and television.

Guest judge at Kaikoura Trash Fashion Wearable Art Show, 2004 Invited to judge Nouveau Design Awards, Wakefield Nelson in Feb 2008 Accepted into the Montana World of Wearable Art Awards five times, won Commended Award in Children's Section 2001 Cult Couture Awards, Auckland NZ 2005, Runner-Up in Totally Organic Section Peugot Hokanui Fashion Awards, Gore, Southland, NZ 2006, accepted into Kiwiana Section

Guest judge at Kaikoura Trash Fashion Wearable Art Show, 2004 Invited to judge Nouveau Design Awards, Wakefield Nelson in Feb 2008 Accepted into the Montana World of Wearable Art Awards five times, won Commended Award in Children's Section 2001 Cult Couture Awards, Auckland NZ 2005, Runner-Up in Totally Organic Section Peugot Hokanui Fashion Awards, Gore, Southland, NZ 2006, accepted into Kiwiana Section

Jude Skeers
Jude has been involved with the textile arts for virtually his whole life, most particularly as a keen and inventive knitter, but also through his work on behalf of TAFTA (The Australian Forum for Textile Arts, Ltd) which includes the wearing of his renowned wardrobe and the creation of outstanding installations at numerous FORUM conferences. He has judged many national textile events in Australia and - according to his younger son - he is 'Developing his Fashion Gene.'

Anne Forbes - Artistic Director of Terrapin Puppet Theatre Limited.
Anne Forbes is a director and designer of visual theatre performance with over 23 years professional experience whose work is highly regarded in her native country of New Zealand. From 1984 - 1990 she was the Artistic Director of the New Zealand Puppet Theatre and from 1991 - 2004 was the Artistic Director of Out of Hand Productions.

Anne has created over 40 theatre productions ranging from intimate solo work to large-scale extravaganzas. She has been critically acclaimed for her imaginative and inventive works that have toured nationally and internationally to festivals and major theatre venues including several tours of Japan and South Korea.

Together with her partner Tim Denton (AboutFace Productions), Anne has created high quality performance and visual images for the World of Wearable Art awards in NZ as part of their pre-show and in-show entertainment. Anne moved to Tasmania July, 2004 to take up the position of Artistic Director of Terrapin Puppet Theatre.

Tess Tilbury - ( Regional Manager South - Women's Development Program - Women Tasmania (Department of Premier & Cabinet)
The aim of the Women's Develpment Program is to expand women's opportunities for participation in the social, economic, political and cultural life of the Tasmanian community. Tess works with women and women's organisations across Southern Tasmania to enable them to respond to community concerns and assist them to undertake projects and/or access the information and resources they may require. Tess also manages a mentoring project for grade 10 female students, one of which (from Claremont High School) was a successful participant in 2003 Wearable Art and Art to Wear Awards. Tess will assist the judges to judge the Women Tasmania Student Encouragement Award.