The Edible Fashion Awards is a spectacular wearable art event celebrating Hawke’s Bay’s innovative creative spirit and our rich history as a quality food producing region.
Each year up to 300 designers create fascinating works of wearable art from food, imitation food or food packaging. Following a day of preliminary judging, in which all entrants have the opportunity to showcase their creations on the runway, a panel of accomplished New Zealand judges select finalists to be part of the public show.
Stunning designs intertwined with quality entertainment from across New Zealand, makes the Edible Fashion Awards a unique, exciting and much-talked-about night out and a highlight of the Hawke’s Bay event calendar.
In 1994 Mayor Jeremy Dwyer established the Trust (originally the Hawke’s Bay Springfest Trust then the Hastings Blossom Festival Trust) to recommence the Hastings Blossom Festival after a period of inactivity. The Blossom Festival, featuring a parade of floats intricately decorated with real or artificial blossoms, was created in 1950 to encourage community spirit, celebrate the beginning of the fruit-growing season and attract visitors to the region.
Subsequently, the running of the annual Blossom Festival was taken over by Creative Hastings, now Arts Inc. Heretaunga. The Trust was renamed the Hastings Art & Culture Trust and took over the management of the Edible Fashion Awards, which had been created and previously produced by the Hastings Business Association.
Current Hastings Art & Culture Trust Board
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst (Chair), Daniel Betty, Derek Burns, Pitsch Leiser
Each year we bring together a panel of expert judges from across New Zealand. Past judges have included leading New Zealand designers and fashion gurus, a Masterchef judge, multiple World of WearableArt (WOW) winners, an international fashion model, Weta Workshop collaborators, award-winning photographers and TV personalities.
Meet our 2020 judges… this year’s incredible panel is drawn entirely from our own region!
Unio Goldsmith & Gallery Jewellery & Accessory Award – Bruce Jackson
Essence Top Model Award – Michal McKay
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