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Malaysian student Mohammad Faris Bin Mohd Fairusham has made the country proud after winning the 'Air' section at this year's World of Wearable Art (WOW) competition in New Zealand
His winning creation, titled Wau Bulan, drew inspiration from Malaysia's traditional moon kite and impressed judges with its intricate craftsmanship and storytelling.
Check it out below:
The World of Wearable Art, often called WOW, is one of the biggest international showcases celebrating the fusion of fashion, art, and performance.
Every year, designers from around the world transform textiles, recyclables, and unexpected materials into extraordinary works of wearable art that are displayed on stage in Wellington.
Faris, who hails from Sarawak, is currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
While his degree may be rooted in business, Faris has long had an eye for creativity and self-expression.
"It wasn't until the first year of my degree, in 2022, that I started dabbling in upcycling clothes and sewing for fun," he said in an interview with the university.
His entry, Wau Bulan, blends traditional Malaysian batik with modern design techniques. It features wing-like extensions made from rattan rods inspired by the shape of the iconic kite, as well as repurposed gold curtain trimmings and pieces of old furniture.
The frame of Wau Bulan, in the early stages of its creation.
Image via World of Wearable Art/Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga WakaThe 2025 WOW competition featured 85 finalist garments from over 17 countries, judged on creativity, construction, and storytelling
They competed for a prize pool of over NZD200,000 (RM480,600), across 25 awards.
Faris' Wau Bulan stood out in the Air category, which celebrates designs that evoke lightness and movement.
Other winners at the event included American duo Dawn Mostow and Ben Gould, who took home the Supreme WOW Award for their latex creation 'Tsukumogami', and New Zealand designer Fifi Colston, named runner-up for her piece 'Meine Erste Liebe'.
'Tsukumogami' by Dawn Mostow and Ben Gould from the US.
Image via World of Wearable Art
'Meine Erste Liebe' by Fifi Colston from Wellington, New Zealand.
Image via World of Wearable ArtSince the win, Faris has been focusing on his studies and plans to stay in Wellington until graduation in December.
He may even extend his stay to explore more opportunities in design or participate in another year at WOW.
You can read more about Faris' process of creating the outfit here.
