Could you use creative design skills to create a sustainable, wearable outfit from preloved clothing and textiles?
Young people in Meath are being encouraged to showcase their creativity as part of the Relove Fashion Competition.
The competition, now in its 5th year, aims to give people the chance to design and create their own sustainable outfits and to learn essential skills such as repurposing, upcycling, altering and repair.
The competition challenges entrants to use their creative design skills to create a sustainable, wearable outfit from preloved clothing and textiles. The textiles can be unwanted items in their own wardrobe, donations from friends or family, items sourced at swap events or from charity shops.
Previous winning designs have been beautifully crafted from bed linen, curtains, cushions, shirts, ties, and even Santa Hats.
Speaking at the launch of the Relove Fashion Competition 2024, Lorraine Keane, Fashion Relief founder, entrepreneur and media presenter said “I am thrilled to launch this exciting new step for the Relove Fashion Competition. I have been involved as a judge since the beginning and it is wonderful to see it grow from a regional competition to a national competition. This means that secondary school aged students throughout the Republic of Ireland can enter the competition. I am really looking forward to seeing the creativity and ingenuity of this year’s students.”
Joanne Rourke, Resource Efficiency Officer, Eastern-Midlands Regional Waste Management Plan Office said “The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices are incredibly proud of our association with the Relove Fashion Competition. The innovation, dedication, consideration and talent that the students display each year is a credit to the students, the Rediscovery Centre team, the local authority Environmental Awareness Officers and the many teachers who work all year to make the Relove Fashion Competition such a resounding success.”
Arran Murphy, Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion at Rediscovery Centre “The Relove Fashion Competition is a great project for young people to be involved in. The competition encourages young people to explore sustainable fashion practices by upcycling, redesigning, and repurposing old garments. By extending this opportunity nationwide, Relove Fashion aims to inspire a new generation of designers who are passionate about creativity, the circular economy, and ethical fashion.”
The competition is open to young people in Meath, as Meath County Council is a participating Local Authority. The Relove Fashion Competition is kindly supported by the Government of Ireland, The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, Rediscovery Centre and participating local authorities.
To enter the Relove Fashion Competition visit https://www.relovefashion.ie/how-to-enter