FASHION: INISHOWEN TO STORM MILLENNIUM FORUM AT JUNK KOUTURE NORTHERN FINAL

Junk Kouture Recycled Fashion competition in association with the European Recycling Platform (ERP) is nearing its climax on the 8th March in Derry’s Millennium Forum with its Northern Final.

The Northern finalists’ entries will be showcased on a choreographed catwalk show to a packed audience with the winning design securing a place in the all-Ireland final at ‘The Bord Gais’ in Dublin. Scoil Mhuire, Crana College, Moville CC and Carndonagh CC have all reached the final with their designs.

The Junk Kouture competition has seen thousands of teenagers’ work submitted over the past two years, with some spectacular and awe-inspiring pieces gracing the competition’s regional and national catwalks. Sponsored by ERP, the only pan-European compliance scheme for electronic waste and battery recycling, Junk Kouture is the leading fashion and art competition for secondary school students across Ireland and has a reputation, among many, as being the most creative.

The all-Ireland competition has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2010. The competition has seen student’s work featured on the red carpet at the Royal Premiere of ‘The Hobbit’ in London, captivated audiences at pop-up trashionista fashion shows in Victoria Square among others; been accredited from the European Week for Waste Reduction Awards with a specially commissioned trophy by MLA Sir Alex Attwood and received widespread media attention.

The judges for this competition include a selection of fashion and eco experts including Donegal-born, international model and prolific blogger Faye Dinsmore as well as stylist and TV presenter, Darren Kennedy, who is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s top style influencers. Darren brings his sharp fashion sense and keen eye to the judging panel while Tracy Fahey from the prestigious Limerick School of Art and Design will seek to separate the junk from the Junk Kouture. Yvonne Holmes, who is Head of Corporate Communications for ERP Ireland, chairs the judging panel and she will be watching out for the outfits that best promote sustainability, incorporate used materials effectively and of course make clever use of electronic waste in the Junk Kouture submissions.

Founder of Junk Kouture, Elizabeth O’Donnell had this to say about this year’s Northern Final: “I am so excited about seeing what the North has to offer this year! Last year our Northern winner Jose Varandas’ Warrior Knight Coke Can outfit became one of the most iconic pieces from the 2012 competition. I’ve heard on the grapevine that some of this year’s entrants have created outfits from artificial grass and orange peel- so I think everyone is in for a real treat with the show! I’m really looking forward to seeing what Inishowen has to offer!

The Northern Final is taking place in The Millennium Forum in Derry at 7pm on 8th March; tickets are £15 per person and will be hosted once again by Buncrana’s Cheryl and Emile. For further information, please log on to junkkouture.com or visit the Facebook page at: Facebook.com/junkkouture or Twitter.