Two Dundalk schools in Junk Kouture final

GRAND FINAL WILL BE HELD IN 3ARENA WITH JUDGES LOUIS WALSHE AND PIPPA O’CONNOR

EXCITEMENT is building for students from two Dundalk secondary schools who are competing in the Grand Final of Junk Kouture in the 3Arena on Thursday.

Now in its eighth year, Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture has become the top art and fashion competition challenging students to create costumes from from junk and recycled material.

Thousands of students from around the country take part in the prelimary heats with the regional finalists going through to the Grand Final where the judges include Louis Walshe, Pippa O’Connor and Louth native Dr Tracy Fahey, head of Department of Fine Art at Limerick School of Art and Design.

Colaiste Ris student Nathan McKenna admits that it is ‘very daunting’ to be one of the few boys modelling on the night.

He will be Top, Nathan McKenna and Niamh Maye with their entry from Colaiste Ris and

wearleft, Deja Brew, created by St Vincent’s Secondary School students Isabel

ing Williams and Martyna Czarnocka.

the

school’s entry ‘A Chance for Change’ which aims at highlighting the importance of reducing our carbon footprint.

Niamh Maye came up with the concept and design for the outfit which incorporates old shoes, with Nathan and Sophie Carr helping to create it.

‘As Nathan goes on stage he is wearing a dark cloak and then he flips it over revealing flowers. He then discards it to show a really bright shiny costume so that it goes from dark to light showing that there is still ‘ A chance to change’ and save the planet,’ says Niamh.

The Transition Year students worked on their stunning creation under the supervision of their Home Economics teacher Martine McCaughey.

Representing St Vincent’s Secondary School are Transition Year students Isabel Williams and Martyna Czarnocka who designed and created Deja Brew. Déja Brew is an elegant unique two-piece consisting of a halter neck top and a high-waisted body-con skirt, made from coffee beans. Each bean was individually glued on which was a time-consuming process.

Martyna explained ‘ Our inspiration behind the design was the dependence we place on our morning coffee for that early boost of caffeine to wake us up. Our costume was made of out of date coffee beans that were going to be discarded and this design made excellent use of recycling this material. Fair trade has become a global issue and many coffee producers are trying to improve living and working standards in third world countries.’

The creative duo have thoroughly enjoyed their experience in the design and creative process which has inspired them to consider art as a potential career.

Busloads of supporters will be travelling to the Grand Final where there is a top prize of €2,500 up for grabs as well as lots of other cash prizes, scholarships to study fashion and trips aboard. Entertainment will be provided by top acts including Jake Carter and Fallen Lights.