08 October 2015
If you’re a secondary school student and think you have what it takes to craft outrageous couture designs from junk, we want you to get your creative juices flowing and enter next year’s Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture 2016 competition.
The call out for entries for the All Ireland secondary school competition was launched today by Louis Walsh (one of the judges on last year’s Final in the 3 Arena). He was joined by the four 2015 regional winners today – *Rebecca Breslin (North), Aideen Rafferty (East), Siobhan Buggy (South) and Sarah Cox (West) – who showcased their fabulous junk outfits giving future entrants a taster of what can be achieved and is expected!
Commenting at the call out launch today Louis Walsh said ‘I was blown away by the standard and imagination of the incredible outfits at this year’s finals. So get creating and impress me, you have until the end of January to enter. I look forward to sitting on the judging panel and seeing your entries when I cast my vote at the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture Finals in April 2016’.
Judges for the competition over the last few years have included model and TV presenter Vogue Williams, TV stylist Darren Kennedy, Rosanna Davison, and international model Faye Dinsmore. This year, judges Tracy Fahey from UCL Art and Design, fashion stylist Rob Condon will return to join Louis Walsh on the panel. Two further judges will be announced over the coming months.
As in previous years there will be four regional heats in Dublin, Derry, Limerick and Castlebar. The Grand Final, featuring the top 80 dresses, will take place in the 3Arena, Dublin in April 2016.
Laura Lynch, Head of Youth Banking at Bank of Ireland said ‘As Ireland’s leading bank for students we are delighted and proud to sponsor the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture 2016 competition. We’ve been developing and growing the competition regionally and nationally since 2012 and have worked closely with the Junk Kouture team over that time to help make the competition one that provides the students with the opportunity to showcase their design talents and creations. We’ve seen some really spectacular and awe-inspiring pieces grace the competition’s regional and national catwalks over the last few years and I am looking forward to seeing this year’s entries’.
The fashion competition, now in its sixth year, is open to all secondary school students in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. The challenge includes creating a couture outfit of any shape and size made by the least couture of materials – junk! The students must get their hands on industrial, commercial and domestic waste products and transform them into fashion masterpieces!
With some great prizes on offer, the clock is now ticking for students and teachers a like to get creative. Online application will open January 11th and close at midnight January 29th 2016.
About Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture:
Junk Kouture was created in 2010 by entrepreneur’s Elizabeth O’Donnell and Troy Armour. The competition places a great emphasis on recycling and re-using junk materials in an exciting and creative way, resulting in spectacular and creative work gracing the catwalk shows.
Each entry/outfit must be made from reworked trash or other materials that are beyond their intended purpose. A maximum of three students can work on each outfit. Please see http://www.junkkouture.com/ for more details.
