The closing date for entries is in October, so this is a callout for all design artists, fashion innovators, culture initiators and wearable inventors.
Shearwater is thrilled to announce the launch of WAVE 2026: I Have Friends Everywhere – the 26th year of the Mullumbimby Steiner School’s Wearable Arts performance event.
Year after year, the event features sold-out performances, entertaining more than 1,000 members of the community to breathless reviews.
Shearwater invites you to join them.
Whether you are an emerging artist, a student, an industry professional or a wearable arts savant, it’s time to unleash your creative design skills and begin to imagine your costume entry for WAVE 2026. With five exciting design sections to be inspired by, garments can be sewn, riveted, welded, glued, painted, collaged, knitted, woven, built and assembled from metal, leather, rubber, natural fibres, industrial waste and recycled objects.
Entries will be assessed by a panel of independent judges and vie for a pool of cash prizes.
WAVE Director Joshua Rushton, says the arrival of the competition garments in October provides the final inspiration for the show’s narrative. ‘As the designers fire up their imaginations and begin to develop their unique creations, students, teachers and community artists are engaged in developing the music, costume, choreography, set design, film and special effects.’
‘In this sense, Shearwater’s Wearable Arts event has built, over more than two decades, an incredible production dynamic – a true artistic interface between the high school and the world. A competition that goes out to the community, a high school production that builds an incredible show around an inspiring theme and finally the integration of competition entries that brings the show to life.’
You will find everything you need to enter a garment, on the Shearwater website (shearwater.nsw.edu.au/wave) – entry form, terms and conditions and inspiration.
Unleash your imagination and be a part of this year’s event!
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