Highlights of the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final. Watch this year’s batch of eco-conscious young designers is set to up-cycle the way we think about fashion. Presented by actress and comedian Faye Shortt with backstage access from award winning content creator and presenter India Sasha.
Sixty talented teams of students from across the country will showcase their incredible creativity, transforming recycled materials into high-fashion designs and sparking conversation about the world we live in today. Expect thought-provoking themes addressing Ireland’s housing and homelessness crisis, a warm welcome for Ukrainian students, and the harmful effects of fast fashion on our planet. These young people aren’t messing around, and their message is as clear as the couture is fabulous.
The designs on display will be far from ordinary. Expect to see items like tents, high-visibility jackets, and even chicken feathers from a local factory transformed into breathtaking couture pieces. This is wearable art with a purpose, as young designers use fashion to spark conversation and promote change.
The stakes are high, as each team will compete for one of ten coveted spots in the next Junk Kouture World Final. Previous World Finals have been held in iconic venues such as the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. The finalists will need to impress an esteemed judging panel, which includes renowned Irish fashion designer Claire Garvey, a leading voice in sustainable bespoke fashion; Fionn Ferreira, the 23-year-old anti-plastic pollution innovator and Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree; and Mariusz Malon, a former Junk Kouture champion who recently contributed to the costume design team for Bambie Thug at Eurovision 2024 in Sweden and showcased their own collection at London Fashion Week in September.