The annual awards, on tomorrow and Saturday, are a feature event of the inaugural Manukau Festival of Arts.

Eighty garments from 65 designers will vie for the premier award.

Manukau Arts manager Leisa Siteine founded Cult-Couture seven years ago.

It has grown to become one of New Zealand's premier fashion shows and now designers and artists from around the countrysubmit their best garments.

Ms Siteine says when she started the awards she wanted to provide a platform for artists to show their skills in a different area.

"The calibre of the garments from when I started it to what we have now is just amazing.