Put SO’OMālō ITENI SCHWALGER
Valerie and Kevin at Womad 2025 in New Plymouth.
Photo: SO’OMālō ITENI SCHWALGER
In New Plymouth, Womad is well underway.
The first night of the worldwide music, arts and dance festival had a surprising start – with performances by artists such as Poppa Jax, Black Comet, Nana Benz du Togo and more.
The opening night also featured a dress theme: ‘Skies of Wonder’. According to the Womad website, the theme is described as celebrating the “charming world above us, where reality and fantasy are. From native birds to mythical beasts, let your imagination fly. If you are incorporating the elegance that Birdlife’s life or mystique of fantaceous creatures, the inspiration of the skies.
STACEY AND YOUR WHICANAU
Stacey (the majestic phoenix in red) described her family as representing the night sky, the moon, the elves, the dragons and – missing in the photo – a wolf. When I came across her on the Tūi Stage, there was a long line of people queuing a picture with her and her amazing costumes of Whānau.
Photo: SO’OMālō ITENI SCHWALGER
Neil and Sky
Initially, I saw the sky by squeezing the ferns in Neil’s arms and immediately knew that it was in the presence of greatness. Neil and Sky were inspired by Aotearo’s own Kākāpō, as well as the Greater Green Green Araca, and the National Honduras Bird – A Macaw Scarlet. While they chose the ferns for their meaning to the oteroa, they also did not want to produce unnecessary waste with their clothes.
Photo: SO’OMālō ITENI SCHWALGER
Zach and his whIONAU
When I asked Zach how his clothes fit into the night theme, his answer was, “Isn’t it?” What was abundantly clear was that Zach and his Whānau were happy and excited to experience everything Womad had to offer, and isn’t that what really matters at the end of the day?
Photo: SO’OMālō ITENI SCHWALGER
Bindi, Morg and Jess
Last year, these superstars took some of Womad’s best dressed, but that was not enough for them – they were clearly back to another victory. One addition to your clothes this year to align with this year’s theme was the celestial jewelry adorned in their faces.
Photo: SO’OMālō ITENI SCHWALGER
Valerie and Kevin
These two veterans of women have become local celebrities for their phenomenal clothes. Genuinely, they were very photographed at night. Valerie said she wanted her clothes to look ‘out of this world’ and I think they got it right. Kevin’s helmet also lights up. I’m a big fan of this everywhere.
Photo: SO’OMālō ITENI SCHWALGER
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