Art will take centre stage in Tapanui this May when ''Fashion Fantasia'' comes to town.
A group of four West Otago residents - under the banner Strong Black Coffee Productions - is running a wearable arts competition.
Co-organiser Jann Robertson said the event was inspired by a visit to the World of WearableArts (WOW) awards in Wellington.
She is working with husband Antony and friends Liesl and Marty Grounds to run the event on May 24 in the West Otago Community Centre.
The group have written several productions performed in the West Otago area, and were confident they could successfully run a wearable art competition, Mrs Robertson said.
''People love wearable art ... All they have to do is create a work of art that can be modelled on stage.''
There are five categories in the open section, and three for primary and secondary school children.
Both open and children's sections have industrial, Kiwiana, and recycled categories, with avant garde and upcycling in the open.
Judges have yet to be named. Entries close on March 15.
Mrs Robertson said entries to the upcycling section - where a garment is supplied by the organisers and must be upcycled into a new garment - close on March 1 to allow time for a garment to be sent so it can be redesigned.
Prizes range from $100 to $300 for category winners, with the overall winner being awarded $500.
