Williams says the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement will help WOW continue to grow its relationship with India to a whole new level.
The Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony with Aditi Srivastava, President of the Pearl Academy, and Meg Williams, CEO of WOW, witnessed by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
“This will make it easier for creative talent and ideas to move between our two countries, and signal a shared commitment to celebrating and protecting each other’s arts and culture.
“We see real potential to grow the pipeline of Indian designers reaching the WOW stage, to expand creative partnerships with institutions like Pearl Academy, and to explore new wearable arts projects that bring the best of Indian and New Zealand creativity together.”
Williams joined the Prime Minister’s business mission to India last year. The iconic annual WOW show in Wellington attracts more than 60,000 people each year.
This offers an opportunity for designers to showcase their talents on an international stage and be part of a unique and world-class production. It also provides them an opportunity to connect and network with a global community of like-minded designers.
Pearl Academy provides professional services associated with education and training in fashion, media and design adhering to international standards. Design students from Pearl regularly submit entries to the World of WearableArt Competition.
The quality and creativity of these garments have been outstanding and several of them have won esteemed awards. WOW and Pearl Academy have had a beneficial and rewarding relationship over several years.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. with Aditi Srivastava, President of the Pearl Academy, and Meg Williams, CEO of WOW after they signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
Described by designers as the Oscars of wearable art, WOW has seen significant growth in interest in wearable art from India including some phenomenal entries coming from Pearl Academy. India now has WOW’s third-highest social media following, behind the United States and New Zealand.
The work of local wearable art designers such as Akhilesh Gupta and Dimple Gandhi, who have won multiple placings and attracted millions of views in recent years, has helped continue to grow the global reach and interest in WOW.