Wearable Art Mandurah 2019 Youth winner Teddy McRitchie has gone from strength-to-strength since taking home the award for his piece In Bloom.
The cotton dress featured 225 handmade flowers and 445 handmade paper leaves, which took four months to construct.
Teddy is currently working on his piece for the 2021 competition, a sequel to In Bloom that he says will show his progression as an artist.
The Queensland teenager joins hundreds of other local, national and international designers and artists of all ages in the bold, evocative and experimental Wearable Art Mandurah competition, which started in 2011.
"I wanted to enter in 2018 but I just wasn't ready," Teddy said.
"But the following year the stars aligned, and I entered. It was the best decision I made."
Since his win, Teddy has been honing his skills and entering local competitions and shows.
One thing he says he's learnt in this time is not be so emotionally attached to the garments he creates.
"Creating a wearable art garment is like birthing a baby, you feel emotionally attached to them. But at some point, you need to 'let go' and send them out into the world."
Mayor Rhys Williams said that after last year's cancellation of Wearable Art Mandurah due to the pandemic, he was keen to see the creativity of local, national and international entrants.
"There are so many opportunities for talented designers and artists, like Teddy, to get involved," he said.
"What I love about Wearable Art Mandurah is that it brings together people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
We look forward to welcoming this great event back, and can't wait to see the calibre of garments created."
Registrations are closing soon, on Friday, April 9.
Submissions of the final pieces will be due on June 23, and judging for all categories will take place in Mandurah across the weekend of 27-28 August.
There is $17,000 worth of cash and prizes to be awarded across categories including Avant-Garde, Paper, Migration and Waterproof.
All events associated with Wearable Art Mandurah have been planned with COVID-19 contingencies in place, to avoid cancellation in 2021.
For more details on entering the 2021 competition, go to wearableartmandurah.com.