Students have the bottle to strike gold with Junk Kouture

Using an estimated 1,000 milk containers and God knows how many plastic teaspoons, two Cork teenagers have designed an extraordinary outfit which has catapulted them through to the finals of a prestigious national fashion contest.

It took Barbara Mitrasova and Julia Sworzeniowska two full school years and countless hours at home — but their fabulous creation, Papillon D’Or, has brought them to the finals of the renowned Junk Kouture fashion competition for secondary school students, which takes place in two weeks’ time.

Their eye-catching, single- shouldered, gold-and-white gown features a shimmering gold breastplate designed from plastic teaspoons and a feathery white skirt with a long train, crafted from milk bottles and a matching head-piece.