Upcoming designers with eye for winning style in old junk

These 10 designers are off to the 2023 Junk Kouture World Final in London next October

The 10 winning designs at the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final: these designs go forward to the Junk Kouture World Final in London on October 12, 2023. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Plastic milk drums, shoe boxes and an old shower curtain — it takes a special eye to scan these 'rough diamonds' and see the haute couture within. 

But the 80 eco-conscious creators and up-and-coming fashion designers created real treasures from junk for the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final this week — and 10 designs made from 100% recycled materials were chosen by Louis Wash, Keilidh Cashell, Tara Kumar and Stephen McLaughlin to compete at the 2023 Junk Kouture World Final in Ovo Arena Wembley in London on October 12.

Junk Kouture stamps available online and in selected post offices nationwide

The 10 fabulous creations chosen at the final in Dublin's 3Arena on Thursday evening literally got a stamp of approval. An Post unveiled a booklet of four Junk Kouture stampsat the Dublin City Final, featuring past designers and the iconic high-fashion looks they created from upcycled junk. These stamps cost €5.40 and come with a limited student online offer of five free postcards.

Invidia modelled by Ailish Doherty of Carndonagh Community School, Carndonagh, County Donegal. Designers are Ailish Doherty, Julia Grant and Ciara Gilmore.

Ailish Doherty of  Carndonagh Community School, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal in design ‘Invidia’ made from shoe boxes and a shower curtain. Designers are Ailish Doherty, Julia Grant and Ciara Gilmore

Drowning Duchess modelled and designed by Eabha Byrnes of St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary.

Eabha Byrne of St Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary in her design ‘Drowning Duchess’ made from pool floats and inflatables. Designer Eabha Byrne

STEMinist designed by Vanessa Kielty, Martha Nugent and Mary McNulty of Elphin Community College, Elphin, Co. Roscommon, created to encourage more girls to become involved in STEM subjects. Made from old electrical wiring and a copper water cylinder, nuts and bolts, rusted corrugated iron, high-vis jacket, disused landscape netting, tool mats, gears and plastic.

Fallen Angel by Alexa Alexandrina of St. Kevin's Community College, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. Made from old sheets, foil and playing cards.

Fallen Angel by Alexa Alexandrina of St Kevin's Community College, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, County Dublin

Le Nouveau Riche by Theo Connolly of Dundalk Grammar School, Louth, made using waste from vaccine centres.

Le Nouveau Riche by Theo Connolly of Dundalk Grammar School, Louth.

Tonnes of Tradition by Aisha Khan, Khadija Bibi and Harjass Kau of Coláiste Nano Nagle, Limerick, made from tonne bags, wool, up-cycled curtains, curtain rings, wires, keys and bed sheets.

Tonnes of Tradition modelled by Khadija Bibi which was created with her fellow students Aisha Khan and Harjass Kau of Coláiste Nano Nagle, Limerick

The Muse by Asia O'Riordan and Erris Lindsay from Blessington Community College. Made of beads, bingo cards, wool, sticks of willow, old denim, fabrics and paint.

Asia O'Riordan models the design 'The Muse' which she created with fellow student Erris Lindsay from Blessington Community College

Ragnor Rí designed by Leah Higgins and modelled by Joshua Whelan of Clarin College, Athenry, Co. Galway, made from recycled faux furs and leather offcuts, car timing belts, broken studs and buckles from a local shoemaker embellish the design. The design is adapted to meet the mobility and wearability needs of a wheelchair user.

'Ragnor Rí' designed by Leah Higgins (Left) and modelled by Joshua Whelan of Clarin College, Athenry, Co. Galway

#TagME designed by Eva Donlon, Evie Nugent and Méabh O'Shea of Moate Community School, Westmeath. Made from plastic colour samples for various plastic objects — they’ve used more than 2,500 tags, handsewn together. These samples usually end up in landfill because the different colours make them difficult to recycle.

#TagME modelled by by Eva Donlon which she created with fellow students Evie Nugent and Méabh O'Shea of Moate Community School, Westmeath

The Eye of the Beholder modelled by Lauren Egan of Ursuline Secondary School, Templemore Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary made from discarded tents, garden hose and an old builder’s helmet. Designers are Zoe Whelan, Lauren Egan and Shauna Walsh.

Lauren Egan of Ursuline Secondary School. Templemore Road, Thurles, Co.Tipperary in design ‘The Eye of the Beholder’

These winning designs will battle it out against 50 other teams from Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Milan, and New York to become the World Designer of the Year.

• The final was filmed and will be on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 7pm on May 18

High fashion: some of the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final creations at 3Arena