Click through the gallery above to see the winning designs from the Junk Kouture World Final.
An Irish design has won the prize for Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year at the 2023 world final in Monaco.
Irish design #TagMe from Moate Community School nabbed the top prize, as 60 haute couture designs made completely from recycled materials travelled to the event in the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Each territory – including Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, the USE and the UAE – brought 10 designs to impress the judges, and they certainly delivered.
Junk Kouture is an eco-conscious fashion competition that allows post-primary school students from across the country to design, create, and model jaw-dropping creations – all made from recycled items.
Nine of the competitors who travelled to the world finals were chosen by judges Louis Wash, Keilidh Cashell, Tara Kumar and Stephen McLaughlin, while the Wildcard competitor was made by RTÉ Lifestyle’s Sínann Fetherston. See the full list of Irish designs here.
Designed by Eva Donlon, Evie Nugent and Méabh O’Shea of Moate Community School, Westmeath, the winning design was made from plastic colour samples for various plastic objects. The team used over 2,500 tags, which were handsewn together. These samples usually end up in landfill because the different colours make them difficult to recycle.
Fashion designer and founder of contemporary womenswear brand SML Stephen McLaughlin, Parisian it-girl and champion of sustainable fashion Lise Pierron and model, fashion student and Junk Kouture alumna Lara-Jane Doherty had the unenviable task of choosing the winners.
There were also awards for six City Designers of the Year and a number of other awards announced on the night. The trophies for the World Final have been specially made from old Perspex screens by teams from Atlantic Technological University in Donegal, home of Junk Kouture.
Read the full list of winners below:
Paris Designer of the Year 2023 – Bubblefish, designed by Lee Lou Mandace, Gaella Jean Pierre and Jeanne Guibot of Lycée Marie Laurencin made from waste plastic.
London Designer of the Year 2023 – Medias Jiometri made by Anaya Kogi and Lorenza Nimmo of Jersey College For Girls. Made from recycled magazines to create a discussion around the negative perceptions of body image.
New York Designer of the Year 2023 – Mother of Poison by Chloe Davia and Cianna Ricci of McIntosh High School, Georgia, inspired by the maternal instinct mothers have to protect their children.
Milan Designer of the Year 2023 – Bloody Mary made by Elisa Gaetani Lisco, Emma Ambrosioni and Luca Quartini of Sculoa D’arte Andrea Fantoni, Italy which represents princess dreams and the stark reality of life.
Abu Dhabi Designer of the Year 2023 – War of Woman design by Marie Ammar, Shahd Belal and Haya Sami of Summit International School, Dubai. The designers wanted to design an armour that represents the strength of women.
Dublin Designer of the Year 2023 – #TagME, designed by Eva Donlon, Evie Nugent and Méabh O’Shea of Moate Community School, Westmeath, the design was made from plastic colour samples for various plastic objects – they’ve used over 2,500 tags, handsewn together!
Purposeful Plastic Award Powered by TWW Yachts – End of an Era designed by Hannah Pugh, Chiedza Makuto and Carys Clutterbuck of Marling School, made from thousands of milk bottle tops.
Cultural Couture Award Powered by ISM – Tonnes of Tradition by Aisha Khan, Khadija Bibi and Harjass Kau of Coláiste Nano Nagle, Limerick, made from tonne bags, wool, up-cycled curtains, curtain rings, wires, keys and bed sheets.
Performance Award Powered by Kate Powers Foundation – From Coastline to Wasteline made by Lily Gear, Vega Beroud and Luisa Dietel of International School of Nice. Made with materials found on beach cleans.
Glamour Award Powered by ATU – Invidia modelled by Ailish Doherty of Carndonagh Community School, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, made from shoe boxes and a shower curtain. Designers are Ailish Doherty, Julia Grant and Ciara Gilmore.
Junior Designer Award Powered by TEC – Wishing on a Ribbon from Bethany School, made with ribbon wishes that were hung on the village Christmas tree.
Imagination Takes Flight Award Powered by Etihad AirwaysI – The Artificer by Aaesha Almannaee, Baraah Alkhatib and Hala Abdulah with the theme of steampunk and brings together the world of science into the design.
Wearable Art Award Powered by EUROSPAR – The Muse by Asia O’Riordan and Erris Lindsay from Blessington Community College. Made of beads, bingo cards, wool, sticks of willow, old denim, fabrics and paint.
STEAM Award Together with Microsoft – Steminist, designed by Vanessa Kielty, Martha Nugent and Mary McNulty of Elphin Community College, Elphin, Co. Roscommon, created to encourage more girls to become involved in STEM subjects. Made from old electrical wiring and a copper water cylinder, nuts and bolts, rusted corrugated iron, high-vis jacket, disused landscape netting, tool mats, gears and plastic.
Innovation Award Powered by DHL – Older Motions, by Emily Li of Cambridge School of Weston, New York made from VHS tapes.
Ready to Wear Award Powered by Deloitte – Le Nouvea Riche, by Theo Connolly of Dundalk Grammar School, Louth, made using waste from vaccine centres.
