A LIMERICK school team were in a spin after taking home a world title for their creation, ‘Carousel’, at the Junk Kouture World Final.
The final, held in the Helix in Dublin, saw the impressive design made by Lauren O’Neill, Alexandra Giltenane, and Sarah Kinnane from Salesian Secondary College walk away with not just the Dublin Designer of the Year award but also the World Designer of the Year award.
Made from hi-vis vests, binbags, pipes, cardboard, and even old toys, the merry-go-round shape represented circularity in fashion.
The sustainable fashion competition celebrated eco-minded and creative talent of 12-19-year-olds, with this year’s final bringing 60 design teams from around the globe to Dublin.
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
Teams from Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, the USA and the UAE put their minds to producing fantastical couture from objects most people would chuck in the bin.
The designs were evaluated by a prestigious judging panel of experts in sustainability, fashion, education, and entertainment, Cory Infinite, a creative director and multidisciplinary artist; Claire Garvey, a leading Irish designer; and Zeda, a Dublin-based visual artist, stylist, and creative director.
Competition organisers said that: “Junk Kouture offers schools and students a highly engaging way to use creative skills – empowering them create lasting behavioural change.”
“We are constantly evolving our educational materials available to both educators and students on creative thinking, innovation and circularity to help them look beyond their Junk Kouture project and begin to apply the knowledge learned to all aspects of their lives.”