Anna Sharpes: ‘A way of life'.

Anna's entry, Dia-beat-this for WOW 2024 featured diabetes pump waste.

There are many accomplishments to Anna Sharpes’ life. The Wellingtonian has run a sewing school, designed dancewear (including a line for pole dancers), and been the life-saving, last-minute dress alteration angel for brides-tobe and bridesmaids. She’s also featured as a finalist in the World of Wearable Art show (WOW). Anna’s first had a garment accepted into WOW in 2018, a year before she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in fashion design from Massey University.

Created for the Transformation section, Bloom is exactly that – a giant flower that the audience witnessed gradually opening. But, coming from someone living with type 1 diabetes, there are deeper undertones. ‘Bloom touches on depression. The petals both shield and protect, and the soft, delicate, and fragile interior suggests emotions.’

This year, Anna created Dia-beat-this (right), a garment made utilising insulin pump waste packaging from 500m of tubing and 300+ infusion sets.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t selected as a finalist, but Anna says she is looking forward to planning next year’s submission as well as the hundreds of hours' work that each garment demands.

‘It’s so time consuming. You’re looking at 700–800 hours at least, and that’s just in evenings and whenever you can cram it in. It’s a passion project, a way of life!’

Currently, Anna and her husband are living amid a major house renovation. ‘My lovely husband just puts up with the whole living room being taken up by something. I’ve got many projects on the go, but I like being busy.’

Anna’s wearable art, Bloom, from 2018 WOW: ‘Bloom touches on the highly political topic of depression, which has become ever-so-present within the 21st century. The petals are seen to both shield and protect, demonstrating strength and power. The interior representing our emotions, soft, delicate, and fragile, similar to the nature of a flower in bloom. The variety of radiant, dazzling colours allows for one to take a breath and be immersed in the organic nature of Bloom.’ – Anna Sharpes