Local schools chasing coveted place in Junk Kouture World Finals

Four local schools will showcase their innovative talent in this year’s Dublin City Final of Junk Kouture as they compete for one of ten coveted spots in the next Junk Kouture World Final.

Youthreach Navan, St Joseph’s Mercy Secondary School, Navan, Scoil Mhuire, Trim and St Ciaran’s Community School, Kells are four of 60 design teams from across the country that will return to the RDS, Dublin on 1st October as they compete in Ireland’s leading sustainable fashion platform for Gen-Z, Junk Kouture.

Creative, innovative, and sustainability-focused students between the ages of 12 and 19, will take the stage to present their most thought-provoking designs, all crafted entirely from everyday junk.

These young Irish visionaries, aim to dazzle and impress the esteemed Junk Kouture judging panel as they showcase months of hard work while performing in their impressive wearable designs each one with an inspiring story behind it.

Junk Kouture is a leading platform for youth sustainable fashion, challenging students to design and create striking couture from everyday junk and recycled materials. Their mission is to inspire creativity and innovation while promoting sustainability and environmental awareness.

The ‘Rings of Rainbow’ design created by students Chloe Brown, Eabha Ni Dhomhnaille and Beibhinn Byrne from St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School, Navan was inspired by the abundance of waste in their school and community crafted from repurposed materials, including rings from an old washing machine tube, electrical wire from data sites, and reclaimed string from the home economics department for the top portion.

‘Batik Chic’ from Youthreach Navan is an upcycled jumpsuit created with batik fabric by students Blue Sherlock, Michaela Nugent and Leah Holland. The artwork was created by past Youthreach students and the late Youthreach co-ordinator Sharon Maher, who sadly passed away last October. This design is in memory of her legacy and all she did for the students at Youthreach Navan.

The ‘Marine Mourning’ design from Scoil Mhuire, Trim created by students Isabelle Kelly and Sara Staraityte was heavily inspired by the 18th century mourning dress. The designers feel that the world should be in mourning as an estimated 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone.

The St Ciarán's Community School Kells design called ‘The Morrigan’ created by student Ash Murtagh is entirely made from the bi-products of meat production - wool and bones. For the last few years of seeing wool rot away on the designer’s family farm they decided to take some and make it into an odd but striking design.

Attendees can look forward to an exciting evening that begins with pre-show entertainment from Junk Kouture partners, featuring a live DJ set and followed by the main show of the best of young Irish creative talent. Marking the 14th year of Junk Kouture in Ireland, this event promises to be yet another inspiring experience for fashion, creativity and sustainability enthusiasts alike.

Tickets for the 2024 Dublin City Final are on sale on the Junk Kouture website, with prices at €39 and €49.

This family-friendly event welcomes attendees of all ages, though those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Irish students have the exciting opportunity to compete for a place in the World Final of Junk Kouture.

In 2022, the World Final was held in Abu Dhabi, followed by Monaco in 2023. During these prestigious events, Irish finalists showcased their designs alongside peers from fashion capitals such as Milan, Paris, London, New York City, and Dubai, all striving to be crowned the Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year. This global competition highlights the remarkable talents of young people and underscores the importance of sustainability in fashion and beyond.