07-05-2025
Junk Kouture Dublin City Final: Check out the finalists' looks
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.
The competition returns to Dublin tonight, May 7, 2025, to celebrate the country's incredible young minds. After two successful Regional Finals in March, 60 talented design teams from across the country will gather in The Helix to battle it out for a place in the Junk Kouture World Final 2025.
Each design featured in the show is aligned with at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encouraging students to use fashion as a vehicle for change and to address environmental and social issues through creativity.
Celebrating its 15th year of creativity, innovation, and climate-conscious design, this year's event will welcome a prestigious judging panel including Claire Garvey, renowned Irish couture designer; Mariusz Malon, fashion designer and Junk Kouture alumnus; Zeda the Architect (aka Oyindamola Animashaun) a visual artist, stylist, journalist and producer.
Guiding audiences through the night will be presenters India Sasha and Fionnuala Moran.
At the end of the night, 10 design teams will be crowned Junk Kouture World Finalists, earning the chance to represent Ireland and compete against peers from the UK, USA, France, Italy, and the UAE later this year at the global showcase of youth innovation.
Meet the finalists
Dublin:
1. Catching Colours by Henry Henchion and Ruby Kenny from Sandford Park School Ltd created from Old School Shirts and Popcorn Buckets.
2. Swan Song by Danielle Carolan from Sandford Park School Ltd created from old sleeping bags.
3. Floral Fuse by Laura De Búrca, Clara Elliott, and Ellie Richardson from Loreto College, St. Stephen's Green, created from Mesh Curtain and Pool Noodle.
Kildare:
1. HoneyBeeMine by Cailin Dunne, and Georgia Doyle from Piper's Hill College created from Can Tabs and Scrap Perspex.
2. Prey Animal by Stevie Crowe and Ellen Berrigan from Piper's Hill College created from Second hand Wool and Acrylic Yarn.
3. Fiery Phoenix by Grace Rankin and Paolina Tsilindrova from New-Bridge Integrated College created from Old Table Cloths.
4. Shooting for Gold by Emma Early and Deirdre Martin from Scoil Mhuire Community School, Clane, created from Used Pigeon Shooting Cartridges.
Meath:
1. Golden Globe by Beth Brady from St Joseph's Secondary School Navan created from Over 1,000 Plastic Surgical Forceps.
2. Lady in Red by Shannon Donegan, Philipa Lonmore, and Cara McBride from Eureka Secondary School created this piece from an old Wedding Dress and Cereal Boxes.
3. Revamped Rio by Freya Nugent, Tara Gaffney and Ria O Sullivan from Our Lady's School created from Bottle Caps and Curtain Fringes.
4. Mindscape by Varvara Obukhovskaia and Weronika Kwasniowska from Loreto Secondary School, Navan, created from Medicine Instruction Manuals.
Offaly:
1. Field of Dreams by Róisín Berry and Fiadh Connolly from Sacred Heart Secondary School Tullamore created from Silage Bale Netting.
Louth:
1. Kosmic Kouture by Sabrina Sirbu, Anna Callaghan and Taylor Coyle from Ardee Community School created this piece from Online Parcel Packaging.
Donegal:
1. Freedom by Maia McDermott, Alicia Atherton, and Clara Doherty from Moville Community College created this piece from Sea Shells and Broken Mirrors.
2. Redress, Rebuild, Remodel by Rose Gaffey and Ava Molloy from Loreto Community School Milford created from Airtight Membrane and Pipe Laggin.
3. Acro irus by Alana Doherty from Carndonagh Community School created from old cloths, qire & cardboard.
4. Apricity by Lily McGonigle, and Niamh Donaghy from Carndonagh Community School, created from wallpaper and old costumes.
5. Siren Song by Zara Doherty and Niamh Byrne from Deele College created from cans and shower loofahs.
Monaghan:
1. Stress to Impress by Ava Sheridan, Katie Steele from Ballybay Community College created from used exam papers and CDs.
2. ChicAntique by Jasmine Coyle, Kayla Treanor and Sienna McDermott from Beech Hill College created from broken lampshade and feathers.
3. Venom and Vines by Marija Cernikova, Molly Markey and Anika Beu from Inver College, Carrickmacross created from crisp pockets.
Sligo:
1. Unreadable Beauty by Cara Smith, Evie Leigh Walker, Isobel McDermott from Sligo Grammar School created from Past Exam Paper Covers.
Cavan:
1. Frida Spice by Kyra O'Reilly-Kellett and Kiera Rogers from Bailieborough Community School created from animal figurines and old denim.
2. Olann Fhiáin by Dearbhla Crowe, Grace Briody, Leah Wright from Breifne College created from wool and natural dyes.
Limerick:
1. Carousel Couture by Lauren O'Neill, Alexandra Giltenane and Sarah Kinnnane from Salesian Secondary College created from high-vis vests, big bags and pipes.
2. Backpedalling by Liam Collins, David MacAodha and Mark O'Sullivan from Coláiste Íde agus Iosef created from Bike Gears, Sprockets and a Bike Wheel.
Kerry:
1. Fuascailt na Mara by Bríd Ní Shuileabhaín, Faye Nic Mhuiris, and Isla Nic Mhuiris from Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí created from Plastic Bags and Headscarfs.
Tipperary:
1. Inflation Sensation by Caoimhe Dalton-Greene, Elyzah Dela Cuesta and Lucy O'Mahony from Loreto Secondary School Clonmel created from till rolls, copper wires and wrapping paper.
2. No M-Alice In This Palace by Alanna Manton, Emma Hobbert and Sarah from Cashel Community School created from Old Book Pages and Used Tea Bags.
3. Tears of Ice by Alina Taferner, Olive Robinson and Emily Tracey from Borrisokane Community College created from Tin Cans and Plastic Bottles.
4. Chrysalis by Georgia Murphy, Leah Costello-Corry and Katie Coonan from Ursuline Secondary School created from nitrile rubber off-cuts from Hydraulic seals and Old plastic melting beads.
5. Presence Pitch Player by Sinead O'Dwyer, Jessica Fogarty-Quinn and Katie Flanagan from Ursuline Secondary School created from gold all-Ireland hurling final confetti.
Cork:
1. PokerFace by Julia Cody, Lia De Castro from Coláiste an Chraoibhín created from cling film.
2. PaperDoll by Isabella McMullin, Darcy Perrot and Louis Bacaeir from Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin created from paper waste.
3. Something Blue by Smilte Railaite, Alexandra Forth-Tobin and Amanda Lichorobiec from Millstreet Community School created from shredded plastics and scrap metal.
4. Wrapped in Resilience by Gracie O'Doherty, Isabelle O'Brien and Olivia O'Brien from Scoil Mhuire & Íde created from bale wrap.
Kilkenny:
1. Tangled in Trash by Aine Bambrick, Katie O'Keeffe and Jodie Lindsay from Presentation Secondary School, Loughboy, Kilkenny created from bubble wrap from padded envelopes and metal cans.
Wicklow:
1. Golden girl by Anna Doyle, Lilian Kavanagh and Yasmin Bishop from Coláiste Chraobh Abhann created from medals and footballs.
2. Tied To Tradition by Sophie Warren and Mia Warren from Blessington Community College created from neck ties.
Carlow:
1. Paragon Pink by Hannah Lawlor, Aoibhin Brennan and Roisin Brennan from St Leo's College created from body scrubs, hangers and a play matt.
Laois:
1. Ripped To Glory by Ava Hogan, Sarah Lawlor and Kate Lawlor-Fitzpatrick from Mountrath Community School, created from old bamboo sticks and denim.
2. Saline Queen by Aine Carter, Elaine Miller and Kaylah O'Mara from Heywood Community School, created from salt and metal bags.
3. Threads of Contrast by Hannah Gowing from Mountmellick Community School created by hemp potato sacks.
Wexford:
1. All Tied Up by Vicki Zubryk, Ciara Myler and Aoibhe Begley from Presentation Secondary School Wexford created from woven ties.
2. Beauty of Destruction by Tommy O'Leary and Martel Saluveer from St Peter's College created from recycled wedding dress lace.
3. Blazing Muse by Isabel Ryder, Niamh Donohoe and Lilly Mangan from Presentation Secondary School Wexford created from tarpaulin curtain trailer.
4. Gear Glamour by Ellen Chapman, Anna Murphy and Kayla Butler from Ramsgrange Community School, created from wheel spokes and tyre tubes.
5. Bláthanna Bloom by Luana Rodrigues, Ava Edwards and Evelyn Dunne from Coláiste Bríde created from old bed sheets and coffee pods.
Mayo:
1. A Glamorous Decay by Ella Hopkins, Áine Lyons and Matilda Kilcullen-Quinn from Sancta Maria College Louisburgh created from plastic tealights.
Galway:
1. Afroyalty by Erin Godswill from Árdscoil Mhuire, created from recycled fabric and upcycled yarn.
2. Golden Swan by Maeve Murphy, Aisling Bones and Sahra Murphy from High Cross College, created from polystyrene packaging.
3. Feathered LEGO Dreams by Jenny Brady and Kate Barry from Calasanctius College, Oranmore created from Lego and feathers.
Roscommon:
1. Flight To Freedom by Meave Galvin, Abby Regan and Bronagh Fahey from Scoil Mhuire Strokestown created from silage wrap and bottle caps.
2. Miss Mares by Lucia Revuelta from Elphin Community College created from aluminium cans, sardine tins and foil.
3. Twisted Tales by Ava Lynch, Sussanah Reynolds and Katie Hanley from The Mercy College, Roscommon created from toilet roll holders and book pages.
Westmeath:
1. News Spreads by Maeve Murphy and Eve Carey from Athlone Community College created from unsold newspapers and old bed sheets.
2. Blueprint by Erin Roche, Muireann Lowry and Hannah Higgins from Moate Community School created from single use medical jackets.
3. Pay atTENTion by Lucy Hamilton and Niall Maxwell from Moate Community School created from waste tents and zips from tents.
4. La La Lu Veil by Emilija Milasiute from St Joseph's Secondary School, Rochfortbridge created from plastic milk bottles and plastic packaging straps.
Stay tuned
If you missed the live show or simply want to watch it all again, RTÉ will air the colourful event on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Monday, May 19 at 7pm.
RTÉ will also speak with Clodagh Ramsey, the 2024 Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year, about her inspiring journey on RTÉjr's climate and nature podcast, Ecolution. The special episode will be available on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts on May 14.
