A number of Laois students have begun their fashion journey as part of the global phenomenon known as Junk Couture.
A total of 16 students from Heywood Community School have created six wonderfully unique dresses as the aspiring fashionistas did their toes in the world of design.
Junk Kouture is a sustainable fashion competition which gives 12-19 year-olds the opportunity to showcase their design and representing their school on stages across the world.
The competition challenges young people to design, upcycle and create high end fashion from recycled junk.
Junk Kouture was founded in Ireland in 2010 by Dobegal entrepreneur Troy Armour and in 2024 the venture celebrated the five-year anniversary of its broadcast partnership with RTÉ.
They went global in 2021, launching in London, Paris, Milan, New York and Dubai, with the 2022 Junk Kouture World Final held in Dubai followed by the 2023 Final being held in Monaco.
The Junk Kouture World Final is the pinnacle event of the year, showcasing 60 unique designs from secondary schools across Ireland, UK, France, Italy, UAE and USA.
Aqua Armour
Rachel Dunne, Lucy Doyle and Katie Doyle
Design inspired by fish and made using drinks cans, tin foil trays, CDs, and an old baby blanket.
Cans were cut into ovals and attached together to resemble fish scales.
Odette, Oh Death
Áine O’Neill and Michaela Dunne
The design is based off of the ballet swan lake.
Focusing on the white swan Odette, the design aims to highlights the effect climate change has on swans with the mirror hand piece.
Art Attack
Hannah Clancy, Leona O’Neill and April Clooney
The design is made from recycled tents from Electric Picnic, copper, and old drink cans, inspired by epilepsy awareness.
The design symbolises strength and resilience and highlights the need for accessibility for people with medical conditions at festivals we focused on those living with epilepsy.
Coralina Reef!!
Orla Izydor and Caoimhe Friel
A design inspired by the beauty of a coral reef, made from the sea plastic that damages it; and inspired by designers Giambattista Vali and John Galliano.
It is made from baling twine, coffee filters, bubble wrap, honeycomb paper, shopping bags, pieces of an old Halloween costume, and old umbrella and an insulation pipe.
Fabled Doe
Abbie Dunne, Ruth O’Connor, and Faye McDonald
The designers used plastic bottles for leaves and hair nets to resemble moss for their dress.
Inspiration was drawn from the nature of their school grounds.
Saline Queen
Áine Carter, Kaylah O’Mara and Elaine Miller
Inspired by the endless battle against plastic waste and pollution.
The designers chose to highlight the impact of plastic waste in both the sea and land.
The name Saline, which is a salt and water solution, came from the use of salt bags coupled with the mermaid dress design.
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