Wicklow student's evening dress made from old jeans wins national award
Wicklow People
Today at 10:00
When you're in a charity shop and see a nice pair of second-hand jeans, they don't immediately scream 'evening dress'. But for one talented Wicklow student that level of imagination has led to a national award.
Loreto Bray Secondary School, along with other Wicklow secondary schools, participated in 'ReLove Fashion', which is a sustainable fashion competition open to young people of secondary school age in Ireland.
This year, Edena Foot, a third-year student, won the national award for 'best evening dress'. With a growing focus on sustainable, slow fashion, Edena created a stunning evening dress from old denim jeans found in a local charity shop. The dress features hand embroidery and was inspired by aquatic life and the pollution caused by fast fashion.
She received her award as primary and secondary schools accepted their well-deserved Green Flags at The Helix in Dublin, in recognition of the excellent work undertaken by students as part of the Green Schools program delivered by An Taisce.
Along the same theme as Edena's dress, the 'Rubbish Film Festival' is a creative transition year program that provides a platform for students to explore and research sustainable development goal number 12, 'responsible consumption'.
The short, one-minute films created by student teams were full of well-researched topics, focusing on themes such as fast fashion, habitat destruction, water conservation, and even AI. Coláiste Craobh Abhann took the county's best prize back to Kilcoole, while Coláiste Raithin won county first prize for the best impact film, which was presented in Gaeilge. Additionally, St David's in Greystones was awarded second place for the best film award.
Another winner was Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir in Arklow, awarded a regional prize for their efforts focused on the water theme.
Additionally, Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara in Brittas Bay received a regional award for their outstanding work on the 'global citizenship marine environment' theme and also secured a national award under the Marine Institute's explorer's education programme. Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara is one of only 32 European schools selected for the recently launched EU Blue Lights program.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Irish Independent
Wicklow author pens children's picture book inspired by Wexford memories
It was standing room only in Hodges Figgis in Dublin when Aileen, in conversation with RTÉ's Áine Lawlor and publisher Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde of Éabhlóid, described creating the book, its inspiration and the decision to publish it as Gaeilge. Attendees could view the original handmade book and a fine-art lithographic print collection, of which NCAD purchased one limited edition copy for their NIVAL collection. Aileen spoke about how, during a dark period in lockdown, she sought her happy places, Cahore beach being one of them, which brought back memories of walking with her mother and encountering foxgloves, lying in the grass, listening to the sounds of nature. Speaking at the launch, Áine recalled when her colleague Aileen from the RTÉ graphics department first shared the book, then a work in progress, how she was immediately drawn to it because of the language used in the book. 'I'm old enough to remember my grandmother using words like fairy fingers and God's little cows; these were the traditional names that I remember when growing up … the story is about a child finding redemption in our nDúchas, and this is a book that gives great meaning to that word Dúchas,' she said.
Irish Independent
23-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Arklow Seabreeze Festival photos show smiles all round at summer highlight
See full gallery of festival-goers below in our round up of events at the annual showcase Wicklow People The Arklow community took to the streets en masse last weekend to celebrate this year's Seabreeze Festival, enjoying a weekend packed with entertainment that concluded with a spectacular fireworks display on the Avoca River. The Swinging Pubs competition kicked off the festivities on Wednesday at The Gin Mill before moving on to The Bridge Hotel, where winners were announced across a range of categories.
Irish Independent
18-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Becoming Leonard Cohen: How this Wicklow man ended up leading his tribute band
He was a photographer who took Leonard Cohen's photo. He never dreamed one day he'd sing his songs on stage in front of 1,000s of Leonard Cohen fans Wicklow People Today at 02:00 I was looking forward to interviewing Rob Doyle over afternoon tea and oranges (that come all the way from China) but things did not work out that way… The Wicklow townie now spends much of his time in Spain rather than Ireland, living a handy drive from the airport in Alicante. There he plots the progress of Cohen Unlimited, the tribute band which has become an unexpected hit with followers of the Canadian singer-songwriter who died back in 2016. Pubs and holiday resorts are dripping these days with tribute bands re-creating the work of Cher, or Rod Stewart, or Elton John, or other luminaries of the pop world. Related topics David Medcalf
