Biography: Higgs, Avis Winifred

'Whacko', 1949

A repeating pattern showing people riding surfboards of various colours on bright blue waves, with the word ‘Whacko’.

Avis Higgs’s ‘Whacko’ design reflects the carefree days following the end of the Second World War, and pioneered the use of surfing motifs in clothing design.

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Reference: 2004/23/3

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How to cite this page

Douglas Lloyd-Jenkins. 'Higgs, Avis Winifred', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2022. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/47512/whacko-1949 (accessed 25 June 2026).