Latest news with #Aquacultural
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Ecolution talks fast fashion with Junk Kouture
Sustainability met creativity at the Junk Kouture Dublin City Finals, and Ecolution were at the Helix in Dublin to hear all about the amazing show, the message behind the movement and to meet the young people involved. Listen to the Ecolution podcast on RTÉ, Apple or Spotify now! And, you can see the highlights on RTÉ2 this Monday at 7pm. We spoke to the teams who made it through to this year's showcase finale. And they brought high fashion costumes, all made from materials that would otherwise wind up in the bin. Because they know it's high time we change our attitude to clothing. An EPA study carried out by researchers at MTU in 2019 found that the per capita consumption of new textiles in Ireland is 53 kg per person per year – that's almost 1 kg per week of new textiles purchased by every citizen. On an international scale it's thought that one truckload of textile waste is dumped every second, ending up incinerated or in landfill. And less than 1% of the clothes we wear end up recycled into new products. The rise in fast fashion and low cost retailers online has seen massive growth in single wear clothing. Discarded textiles are often exported, with a huge volume of material arriving through the duty free ports of Chile in South America. So much of it is of such low quality that it is dumped illegally in the Atacama Desert with vast mountains of waste clothing left to rot. It's clear we need to change. And one way to change is to take action. And Junk Kouture lets young people make a very clear statement. Founded in 2010, Junk Kouture is a zero cost sustainable fashion event open to 12-19 year-olds that challenges young people to design, upcycle and create high end Kouture from recycled Junk, before showcasing their design and representing their school on stages across the world. Ecolution got behind the scenes to capture the excitement leading up to the final and met Co Westmeath student Clodagh Ramsey from Wilson's Hospital School. She walked away as the World Designer of the year in 2024 for her design 'Aquacultural'. The dress, made from discarded mussel shells weighed a whopping 32kg and championed sustainable food production and gender equality. We only got to speak to a fraction of the people behind the designs on show. Those we did see had made couture level costumes out of household rubbish. All with repurposing and reuse in mind, some of the central ideas of the circular economy. The outfits might be totally catwalk, but the message it carries let all the participants leave having learned ways to be more sustainable in their everyday lives, as well as strutting their stuff on stage.
Glasgow Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow pupil 'flies flag for Scotland' at global fashion contest
Ella Sharp, a pupil at Hillhead High in the West End, won Junk Kouture's London category (which includes Scottish contestants) with a stunning dress made from discarded race paraphernalia such as foil blankets and running vest numbers. Recently, the talented teenager joined fellow pupils from Milan, New York, Paris, Abu Dhabi and Dublin at the glittering finale in Ireland. Ella Sharp (Image: Ella Sharp) Outfits on the catwalk included a dress made from seatbelts salvaged from junkyards, a design involving old lifejackets and the eventual winner, Aquacultural, Dublin pupil Clodagh Ramsey's dress made from 2000 waste mussel shells. Ella's fabulous creation, The Joanie, was inspired by the 40th anniversary of women's Olympic marathon participation and trailblazer Joan Benoit, who proved women belonged in elite sport. READ NEXT: Pupils' fears over selfish parking outside Glasgow school following 'near misses' READ NEXT: The story of why this famous North Glasgow area had a different name for decades Keen runner Ella, who is now hoping to study fashion design, explained: 'Being a passionate designer and athlete, I decided to fuse my love of fashion and running. 'Athletic events promote physical and mental wellbeing but leave a legacy of unwanted paraphernalia, like foil blankets and race numbers. 'I repurposed discarded materials to create an outfit which both celebrates achievement and promotes sustainability.' (Image: Ella Sharp) The Joanie comprises 'medals' fashioned from foil blankets for the bodice, and a grand skirt created from shredded race numbers. Ella adds: 'Accessories include jewellery crafted from safety pins and vintage replica trainers as worn by Joan Benoit 40 years ago. 'I experimented with weaving, crocheting and origami to create this imaginative piece. The Joanie is a symbol of my own athletic journey, but also conveys how fashion can provide powerful political narratives by representing female strength and resilience by contrasting past female repression.' (Image: Ella Sharp) Ella said the experience of making it to the final in Dublin was 'incredible'. 'I spent several unforgettable days attending workshops and talks and exploring the city,' she said. 'Throughout my adventures, I met the most inspiring and talented individuals—each sharing my passion for unconventional, junk-focused creativity. 'Every finalist was deeply invested in their project, and each garment told a unique story.' Ella is hoping to move to London to study, where she wants to specialise in women's knitwear, bringing a 'Scottish flair' to the world of high-end fashion. 'I'm working on making bags using deadstock fabric from across Scotland to create durable and stylish pieces,' she said. 'The Joanie taught me invaluable lessons about my working style and the problem-solving required in this field of design. I am deeply passionate about celebrating the beauty of Scottish culture. 'Carrying the Scottish flag at the Junk Kouture final was a moment of immense pride, and I want to continue drawing inspiration from my heritage as I develop my work.'
