Latest news with #JunkKouture
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Young Wexford trio earn spot on Junk Kouture's world stage ‘It's the most amazing feeling ever!'
Ellen Chapman, Anna Murphy and Kayla Butler creatively designed and hand-crafted their Gear Glamour dress, which was made solely from the parts of two bikes and a bike cover. Not leaving any part unaccounted for, the ambitious designers formed their skirt from bike tyres, the wires were included in the underskirt and the train that trailed the dress was crafted by weaving together the recycled bike cover. The inner rubber tubing of the tyres were plaited and stitched together to form the corset, and a headpiece was created by using the remainder of the tyres as well as spokes, chains and brake cable. The outfit was completed by removing the heels of a second-hand pair of heeled sandals, which were then cleverly replaced by old gear cogs stacked upon each other. 'When we formed our group and began our project, we realised that we all have a different set of skills and focusing on our strengths as a team is what helped us complete our design,' explained Kayla. Kayla also outlined that the inspiration from the design came from their rural community, as their school is located in south county Wexford, and students are heavily reliant on cars and busses to get to school. Inspiring others to reduce their carbon footprint where possible is what led the girls to focus their project around cycling and bikes. When the team reached the national finals, Ellen, who modelled the design for Gear Glamour, described the announcement of the result while she was on stage as 'the most amazing feeling ever'. 'The adrenaline was rushing through me and it's all a bit of a blur because it happened so quickly, but it was really amazing to be up there on stage in front of the crowd,' she added. In addition to being proud of their work and making it to the world stage, Ellen described Junk Kouture as a great initiative to be involved with as 'it has opened so many doors already.' Gear Glamour is one of the top 10 teams in the country that has progressed to the international stage, flying the flag high for Ramsgrange in the World finals which see groups from Abu Dhabi, London, Milan, New York and Paris all compete to be crowned the coveted overall Junk Kouture champion. Anna explained that the Gear Glamour girls are hoping the upcoming announcement for the world event, which is due to be held in 2026, will take them overseas. 'This year's world competition was held in Dublin, and if they decide to host it in a country abroad next year, our accommodation and our flights will be included, which is nice, but that the question we're being asked from all angles – 'where are worlds on?' and we're really looking forward to finding out and taking a trip together, with our designated Educator, Sharon McGee,' said Anna. As the trio will be moving from TY to fifth year in September, Kayla's advice to anyone who may be apprehensive about the programme and getting involved in the programme is to 'honestly, dive in." "Take advantage of every single opportunity. There's so much to do in TY, and if you don't take advantage of those opportunities, then you get nothing out of it. Junk Kouture is just one of the many, many things that we have done and TY has been an amazing experience, it's been unbelievable and I'd recommend it to everybody,' she concluded.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Glasgow student turns heads at Cannes Film Festival with eco-friendly fashion
A talented Glasgow student has turned heads at the Cannes Film Festival. Ella Sharp, a student at Hillhead High School, wowed international audiences with her design, The Joanie, showcased as part of the Junk Kouture initiative — a global youth fashion movement celebrating creativity and sustainability. Crafted from foil blankets and race numbers, Ella's eye-catching design stood out among the celebrity glitz of Cannes, demonstrating the power of fashion with a purpose. Read more: Glasgow School of Art lecturer turns 28 years of memories into bold new show (Image: Brian McEvoy) (Image: Brian McEvoy) Junk Kouture featured eight show-stopping designs on the red carpet, created by secondary school students from the UK, Ireland, Italy, and Monaco — each outfit built from repurposed waste materials. Discarded crisp packets were transformed into a piece called Silver Lining by Lara Keena and Hannah Martin from Westmeath, Ireland, while over 1,500 plastic milk bottle caps were used to construct End of an Era by Carys Clutterbuck, Hannah Pugh, and Chiedza Makuto from Stroud, UK. Other designs included Nespresso Yourself by Irish students Jamie O'Grady and Nichola Fitzpatrick, made from aluminium coffee pods and bags, and Marée Noire by Monaco students Daniela Pagotto and Nathanaël Sargenti, built from sea glass, plastic bottles, and buttons. The striking designs, paraded alongside film stars and influencers, underscored a vital message about sustainable living and circular fashion. Junk Kouture challenges students to rethink waste, transforming everyday discarded materials into innovative fashion. (Image: Brian McEvoy) (Image: Brian McEvoy) Read more: Glasgow event celebrates £2.9m investment in STEM education The initiative aims to not only foster creativity but to raises awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion and promote alternatives where nothing is wasted, and everything is valued. For Ella and her fellow creators, walking the red carpet in Cannes marked a milestone moment — showcasing that bold ideas and responsible fashion can take centre stage on the world's most iconic platforms. To find out more about the movement, the Junk Kouture website or follow @junkkouture on social media.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow student's fashion showcased at Cannes Film Festival
Ella Sharp, a student at Hillhead High School, wowed international audiences with her design, The Joanie, showcased as part of the Junk Kouture initiative — a global youth fashion movement celebrating creativity and sustainability. Crafted from foil blankets and race numbers, Ella's eye-catching design stood out among the celebrity glitz of Cannes, demonstrating the power of fashion with a purpose. Read more: Glasgow School of Art lecturer turns 28 years of memories into bold new show (Image: Brian McEvoy) (Image: Brian McEvoy) Junk Kouture featured eight show-stopping designs on the red carpet, created by secondary school students from the UK, Ireland, Italy, and Monaco — each outfit built from repurposed waste materials. Discarded crisp packets were transformed into a piece called Silver Lining by Lara Keena and Hannah Martin from Westmeath, Ireland, while over 1,500 plastic milk bottle caps were used to construct End of an Era by Carys Clutterbuck, Hannah Pugh, and Chiedza Makuto from Stroud, UK. Other designs included Nespresso Yourself by Irish students Jamie O'Grady and Nichola Fitzpatrick, made from aluminium coffee pods and bags, and Marée Noire by Monaco students Daniela Pagotto and Nathanaël Sargenti, built from sea glass, plastic bottles, and buttons. The striking designs, paraded alongside film stars and influencers, underscored a vital message about sustainable living and circular fashion. Junk Kouture challenges students to rethink waste, transforming everyday discarded materials into innovative fashion. (Image: Brian McEvoy) (Image: Brian McEvoy) Read more: Glasgow event celebrates £2.9m investment in STEM education The initiative aims to not only foster creativity but to raises awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion and promote alternatives where nothing is wasted, and everything is valued. For Ella and her fellow creators, walking the red carpet in Cannes marked a milestone moment — showcasing that bold ideas and responsible fashion can take centre stage on the world's most iconic platforms. To find out more about the movement, the Junk Kouture website or follow @junkkouture on social media.
Extra.ie
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
In Pics: Cannes red carpet gets a green makeover with Junk Kouture
Cannes is renowned for its red carpets, movie stars and glamour – but this year, something a little different turned heads on La Croisette. A show-stopping collection of designs created entirely from repurposed materials took centre stage. Junk Kouture showcased eight incredible designs, dreamed up and crafted by students from Ireland, the UK, Italy and Monaco. Students in Junk Kouture creations at the JW Marriott Cannes ahead of stepping out at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Crisp packets, coffee pods, milk bottle caps and sea glass were transformed into runway-ready fashion with a powerful message. The young designers aimed to prove that circular fashion belongs on every red carpet as they stopped festival-goers in their tracks. Junk Kouture is empowering the next generation of changemakers to tackle the environmental impact of fast fashion and champion circular design, where waste is reimagined as resource. Student Ella Sharp in Junk Kouture creation 'The Joanie' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy There were two standout designs flying the flag for Irish creativity. Nespresso Yourself by Jamie O'Grady and Nichola Fitzpatrick from Presentation College, Tuam, wowed the Cannes crowds with a futuristic flair, crafted entirely from aluminium coffee pods and bags. Student Jamie O'Grady, from Presentation College, in Tuam, Co Galway, in Junk Kouture creation 'Nespresso Yourself' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Silver Lining by Lara Keena and Hannah Martin from Moate Community School, Westmeath, brought a dose of metallic magic to La Croisette. Student Lara Keena, from Moate Community School, Westmeath, in Junk Kouture creation 'Silver Lining' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Schools can jump into the 2025/26 Junk Kouture programme now. Student Carys Clutterbuck in the Junk Kouture creation 'End of an Era' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Student Ella Sharp in Junk Kouture creation 'The Joanie' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Student Irene Donato in the Junk Kouture creation 'Fenice' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Student Malak Abouelouafa El Idrissi in the Junk Kouture creation 'Girl on Fire' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Student Daniela Pagotta in the Junk Kouture creation 'Maree Noire' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Student Jamie O'Grady, from Presentation College, in Tuam, Co Galway, in Junk Kouture creation 'Nespresso Yourself' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Student Carys Clutterbuck in the Junk Kouture creation 'End of an Era' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy Student Lara Keena, from Moate Community School, Westmeath, in Junk Kouture creation 'Silver Lining' at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Pic: Brian McEvoy
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
5 ways to live a sustainable life with circular thinking from Junk Kouture
Junk Kouture is on a mission to empower young people to embrace circular thinking and sustainable living in their everyday lives. Tune in to the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final tonight at 7pm on RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player! As part of a growing global movement, Junk Kouture encourages youth to reimagine waste and take action within their schools and communities to support a more sustainable future. The competition shines a light not just on the environmental costs of fast fashion, but on the broader need for circular solutions, where resources are reused, repurposed, and revalued rather than discarded. Here, the Junk Kouture team shares five key facts about circular living, community impact, and the importance of sustainable choices, especially for young changemakers. 1. Humanity is consuming 1.7 times more resources than the Earth can regenerate each year This is known as Earth Overshoot Day, the date each year when our resource use exceeds what the planet can replenish. It's a sign that our "take-make-waste" system is unsustainable. Circular thinking helps push back that date by reducing waste, conserving materials, and shifting to regenerative practices. 2. Three out of five fashion garments end up in a landfill within a year of purchase Fast fashion is a major culprit, but the disposable culture extends far beyond wardrobes. From day-to-day supplies to packaging, we're taught to value convenience over longevity. Embracing circular thinking means repairing, reusing, and reimagining items to extend their life and young people are leading the charge in this shift. 3. Over 90% of materials used in manufacturing globally are wasted after a single use The current global economy is only 7.2% circular, according to the Circularity Gap Report 2023. That means the vast majority of resources extracted like metals, plastics, and textiles are never cycled back into use. The goal of a circular economy is to close that loop through design, innovation, and behaviour change. 4. Microplastics are not just in the ocean, they're in us Over one third of all ocean microplastics come from synthetic textiles, and those particles have made their way into the food chain, water systems, and even our bodies. Solutions come not just from switching fabrics, but from rethinking how we design, care for, and dispose of products. Circular thinking teaches us to consider the full lifecycle of everything we use. 5 Community-led circular solutions are gaining ground While only a small percentage of textiles are formally recycled, young people are leading innovative grassroots solutions like swap-shops, upcycling workshops, zero-waste school initiatives, and digital sharing platforms. These actions contribute to key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
