Precious garment comes with escort

Sixteen-year-old Rajiv Surendra flew from Toronto to Nelson to hand-deliver his recently finished entry in the Wearable Art Awards.

"Eda Bida" was carefully lifted from its cardboard box yesterday and placed on a mannequin.

Made of hand-painted Japanese paper, the garment is a "blessing in disguise," the young Canadian says.

The name arose after an attempt to make the entry in fabric fell through when he could not find a supplier.

"My mother said, 'Every disappointment is a blessing in disguise,' so the name has come from that."

The high school art student put aside all homework for a few months to work on the garment from 4 pm to 11 pm daily.

He said he heard about the Montana Wearable Art Awards in Nelson only recently when he went into a Toronto store where a young New Zealander was working.

Curator Suzie Moncrieff says he has captured the true spirit of wearable art, and his efforts have earned him an invitation to return as a cast member in the September show.

Ms Moncrieff said he would be "perfect" for the introduction sequences.

- NZPA