Mumbai, October 4, 2007: NP Jayaraj, an Indian design student from Pearl Academy, New Delhi, won the prestigious WOW Factor Award on 21 September, 2007 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Jayaraj won the WOW Factor Award given for the most innovative garment and was awarded a prize money of $ 5000. His collection, 'The Weaver Finch Colony' was a creative synthesis between art and fashion.

Earlier, in April this year, the FDCI had short listed and sent entries of 18 young designers for review by the WOW Judges in New Zealand.

Out of these, the WOW Judges in New Zealand selected 8 Indian design students to showcase at the WOW event.

Apart from the WOW Factor Award won by NP Jayaraj, the FDCI has also announced award money of Rs.30, 000/- each for the three best Indian entries sent to WOW. Travel and stay for these top three entries was sponsored by Tourism New Zealand Board.

Besides NP Jayaraj, the other two top entries who won this prize money include R.S Rajasekran from NID for his collection the 'Metal Petal', and Jasmina & Satbir from NIFT, New Delhi & DCAC for their collection 'I Explode'.