Congratulations: Mayo students to compete in Junk Kouture World Final

A school in Mayo is celebrating after three students qualified for the Junk Kouture World Finals, a sustainable fashion competition.

60 school teams competed in the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final at the Royal Dublin Society on October 1. Among these students were Charlotte Monaghan, Ciara McDonagh and Jade O’Malley from Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh.

The Junk Kouture website, https://junkkouture.com/, describes the contest: “Creative, innovative and sustainably-minded students will showcase their most thought-provoking designs, crafted entirely from everyday junk, aiming to impress the Junk Kouture judging panel."

The Mayo students comprised one of only 10 teams selected to enter the international stage of the competition.

The astonishing display of creativity and sustainability shown by the students is titled La Mer Bougie, which translates to The Candle Sea. The name is undoubtedly derived from the unique material used to make the dress: recycled blue tea light cases and the silver wicks from inside them.

“Junk Kouture offers schools and students a creative way to become involved in active climate change initiatives, empowering them to lasting behavioural change,” the Junk Kouture website states. “We are constantly evolving the educational materials available to both educators and students on issues of sustainability and circular economies to help them look beyond their Junk Kouture project and begin to apply the knowledge learned to all aspects of their lives.”