Tipp students to feature in Junk Kouture Final

The Junk Kouture Dublin City Final took place this week and it brought an electrifying showcase of creativity and sustainability to the RDS, where 10 outstanding teams were announced as World Finalists. These young designers impressed judges and audiences alike with their innovative fashion creations, all made from recycled materials, showing that sustainability and high fashion can go hand in hand. This year's final was also livestreamed globally on RTÉ Player for the first time ever, reaching audiences around the world.

From up-cycled tealights to mussel shells turned couture, each design carried powerful messages about pressing issues such as Ireland’s housing crisis and the environmental impact of fast fashion. Now, these 10 teams are set to represent Ireland in the Junk Kouture World Final, where they will compete for the prestigious title of World Designer of the Year.

Missed the show? Don’t worry! You can still catch all the highlights on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Wednesday, October 16, at 7pm. It’s an opportunity to relive the creativity and energy from this fantastic event.

In no particular order, the 10 World Finalist designs are:

- Alpacalypse by Emma Kinahan, Lucy Champ and Emma Keane of Moate Community School, Westmeath made from alpaca wool and synthetic leather.

- Lady of the Landscape by Aisling McFadden, Eabha McGinley and Sinead Browne of Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, Donegal made from old duvets, prams from the bogland and 250 plastic bottles.

- Queen of the Kings by John Coughlan and Lucy Murphy of Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai, Cork made from silage wrap, fertilizer bags and an old football.

- Inferno Attire by Siobhan McGrane, Bibi Lynch and Nel Czubak of Swords Community College, Dublin made from potato sacks, 800 crushed tealights, a hay net and a Halloween mask.

- Vision Zero by Christina Whelan, Tara Johnson, Caitlin Cussen of Ursuline Secondary School, Tipperary made from seatbelts and high visibility vests as the designers were inspired by the RSA’s campaign Vision Zero.

- Natural Allure by Stephanie O'Connor and Sienna Howe of Colaiste Bride, Wexford made from the bark of the Ugandan Mutuba tree and 2,500 beads hand quilled from olds books.

- La Mer Bougie by Charlotte Monaghan, Ciara McDonagh and Jade O’Mailey of Sancta Maria College, Mayo made from tealights, wicks, pipes and rope.

- Lir’s Child by Caitlin Clarke and Amy Rose Lynam of Loreto Secondary School, Dublin made from dried reeds, charity shop denim and plastic milk cartons.

- Aquacultural by Clodagh Ramsey of Wilson’s Hospital School, Westmeath made from over 2,000 Irish blue mussel shells, charity shop lace, old hair extensions and feathers.

- I’m Your Venus by Ameliia Karashtefan, Viktoriia Romanchenko and Natalie Quinn Sheehan of Colaiste Nano Nagle, Limerick made from old tents, floor installation and bottle caps.

These teams will be competing for the ultimate title of Dublin City Designer of the Year at the World Final, where they’ll take on design champs from London, Milan, Paris, New York, and Dubai in a bid to snag the crown of World Designer of the Year.

The date and location of the Junk Kouture World Final will be announced shortly, so be sure to follow our social media channels @junkkouture for the exciting update. This year’s final promises to be an unforgettable event, showcasing the very best in youth creativity and sustainability from around the world.

Junk Kouture extends heartfelt thanks to our partners—RTÉ as the Official Broadcast Partner, EUROSPAR as the Official Market Partner, and DHL Express Ireland as the Official Logistics Partner—along with Deloitte, ATU and all the supporters who made this event possible. A special thanks to our esteemed judging panel: fashion designer Claire Garvey, sustainability innovator Fionn Ferreira, and former Junk Kouture champion and fashion designer Mariusz Malon, whose expertise and insights were invaluable in selecting this year’s winners.

Stay tuned for more updates as we look forward to the World Final and continue to celebrate the next generation of eco-conscious designers.

For more information, visit junkkouture.com