Limerick design takes the top prize at Junk Kouture World Final
Ten Irish teams were among 60 groups competing to have the most ‘rubbish outfit’ at the Junk Kouture World Final on Tuesday night in the Helix, Dublin.
The contest, now in its 16th year, celebrates young people with the creativity and sustainable ambition to create dresses from some the most unexpected recycled materials.
Teams from Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, the US and the UAE showcased their stunningly salvaged creative fashion at the event on DCU’s campus.
Student Lauren O’Neill wearing the creation Carousel Couture which was named Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year, designed by Lauren O’Neill, Alexandra Giltenane and Sarah Kinnnane from Salesian Secondary College, Co Limerick. Pic: Brian McEvoy
Limerick design Carousel Couture was crowned Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year on the night.
The winning team — Lauren O’Neill, Alexandra Giltenane and Sarah Kinnane from Salesian Secondary College, Co Limerick — impressed judges with their vibrant funfair-themed creation.
Crafted from hi-vis vests, bin bags, pipes, cardboard and even old toy animals, the piece featured a striking merry-go-round silhouette symbolising circularity in fashion.
Student Lauren O’Neill (centre) wearing the creation Carousel Couture which was named Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year, designed by herself and fellow students Alexandra Giltenane and Sarah Kinnnane (also pictured) from Salesian Secondary College, Co Limerick. Pic: Brian McEvoy
In addition to the global title, the trio also secured the Dublin Designer of the Year award.
Paris Designer of the Year was awarded to Marie-Antoinette À La Rose by Laura Peterfalvi and Vaudru Dit Besnard from Lycée Professionnel Ferdinand Buisson, France.
Carbon Footprints, designed by Jessica Murphy, Daisy Greenwood and Scarlett Barritt-Wilding of Beaulieu Convent School, claimed the London Designer of the Year title.
Laura Peterfalvi, wearing the creation Marie-Antoinette À La Rose by Laura Peterfalvi and Vaudru Dit Besnard from Lycée Professionnel Ferdinand Buisson, France. Pic: Brian McEvoy
The Milan Designer of the Year accolade went to Vanitas by Maddalena Zambelli, Chiara Leonardi and Nathalie Colcol from Liceo Artistico Andrea Fantoni, Italy.
Mirrorball was named New York Designer of the Year. The creation was made by Leonardo Iglesias and model Sophie Lorenzo-Luace of TERRA Environmental Research Institute, USA, and featured more than 30,000 recycled can tabs.
The Dubai Designer of the Year title was awarded to Stitches of Our Past by Noura Alshamsi and Emna El Mekki of Emirates National School, UAE.
Student Sophie Lorenzo-Luace, wearing the creation Mirrorball by Leonardo Iglesias and Sophie Lorenzo-Luace of TERRA Environmental Research Institute, USA. Pic: Brian McEvoy
A dress by a Roscommon secondary school drawing eyes due to its shiny metallic elements and nautical theme.
Elphin Community College’s Lucia Reveulta modelled the ‘Miss Mares’ outfit, a fusion of Basque and Irish maritime culture, crafted from recycled sardine tins, aluminium trays, rope, netting, shells, and donated materials.
The team were inspired by Paco Rabanne’s metalwork, with the structured corset and flowing ocean silhouette highlighting the devastating impact of overfishing and ocean pollution, and the urgent need for marine conservation.
Student Lucia Revuelta, wearing creation Miss Mares by Lucia Revuelta of Elphin Community College, Roscommon, Ireland. Pic: Brian McEvoy
The school paid tribute to Ms Reveulta ahead of the event, noting that she is ‘living, breathing and sleeping Junk Kouture and rarely seen without her sketchbook in hand – just in case inspiration strikes’. It added: ‘Her enthusiasm, creativity and dedication have been inspirational, and it has been a joy to watch her vision come to life.’
All groups taking part must align their designs with at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and are judged by a panel of experts in the fields of fashion, the arts, sustainability and design.
Teachers Sinead Cahill, from Tipperary, and Gabriela Budaite, from Meath, with student Rachel Bruce, who is wearing the creation Torn By Motor Neurone Disease by Rachel Bruce, Josephine Gobert and Sabine Larsen of Fairgreen International School, UAE, ahead of the Junk Kouture World Final in The Helix, Dublin. Pic: Brian McEvoy
Schools from counties Laois, Limerick, Tipperary, Wexford, Westmeath and Monaghan made the final 60 entrants.
Last year’s winners were the team from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co. Westmeath who created a dress from 2,000 mussel shells, weighing more than 30kg, with the aim of showing support for sustainable food production.
You’d need some mussels to carry all that weight!
Student Hanyun Xu, wearing the creation Golden Phoenix Fortune, designed by Hanyun Xu, Asia Rubini, Viviana Furgiuele from Liceo Artistico Enzo Rossi in Italy, which won the Performance Award on the night. Pic: Brian McEvoy
World Designer of the Year
Student Lauren O’Neill wearing the creation Carousel Couture which was named Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year, designed by Lauren O’Neill, Alexandra Giltenane and Sarah Kinnnane from Salesian Secondary College, Co Limerick. Pic: Brian McEvoy
Paris Designer of the Year
Marie-Antoinette À La Rose by Laura Peterfalvi (pictured) and Vaudru Dit Besnard from Lycée Professionnel Ferdinand Buisson, France. Pic: Brian McEvoy
London Designer of the Year
Carbon Footprints by Jessica Murphy, Daisy Greenwood, Scarlett Barritt-Wilding of Beaulieu Convent School, UK. Pic: Brian McEvoy
Milan Designer of the Year
Vanitas by Maddalena Zambelli, Chiara Leonardi and Nathalie Colcol from Liceo Artistico Andrea Fantoni, Italy. Pic: Brian McEvoy
New York Designer of the Year
Mirrorball by Leonardo Iglesias and Sophie Lorenzo-Luace (pictured) of TERRA Environmental Research Institute, USA. Pic: Brian McEvoy
Dubai Designer of the Year
Stitches of Our Past by Noura Alshamsi and Emna El Mekki of Emirates National School, UAE. Pic: Brian McEvoy
