HUDDERSFIELD-born designer Sarah Thomas is wowing audiences Down Under with her creative creations.

Sarah, 47, a former pupil at Salendine Nook High School, won a prestigious commission from Tourism New Zealand where she now lives to create a piece of wearable art.

Her theatrical design features a black backpack with arms covered in the colours of regional New Zealand rugby teams all reaching out to touch a rugby ball representing the globe.

Called Our Shout, it took Sarah two and a half months to create and has just been modelled on stage by New Zealand cricket star Ili Tugaga at this year’s World of Wearable Art (WOW) awards.

Sarah, daughter of Jack and the late Brenda Coopland, of Marling Road, Ainley Top, is not sure how she first came up with the design.

“It was very difficult,” she said. “It had to show the nature of the Rugby World Cup, the features of New Zealand, bright colours and had to be worn by a rugby player so they couldn’t look silly in it.

“It is called Our Shout because New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup and to show that the Kiwis are shouting for joy.”