Ten young design teams were crowned Junk Kouture World Finalists at the 2025 Dublin City Final, held at The Helix on Wednesday.
Among the ten were a group of students from Heywood CS.
Aine Carter, Elaine Miller and Kaylah O’Mara impressed the judges with ‘Saline Queen’ which was ‘created from salt and metal bags’.
Inspired by the endless battle against plastic waste and pollution, the designers chose to highlight the impact of plastic waste in both the sea and land.
The name Saline, which is a salt and water solution, came from the use of salt bags coupled with the mermaid dress design.
These trailblazing students will go on to represent Ireland on the global stage at the Junk Kouture World Final, where they will compete alongside students from the UK, USA, France, Italy, and the UAE.
The energy was electric inside The Helix as 60 design teams from schools across the country brought the runway to life with innovative and thought-provoking creations.
Each outfit, crafted entirely from upcycled and recycled materials, showcased the power of youth creativity as a force for environmental and social change.
The audience saw everything from old tents and discarded footballs to high-vis jackets, plastic medical forceps, and scrap metal transformed into extraordinary haute couture.
More than just fashion, these designs were inspired by powerful global issues, with students drawing attention to issues such as biodiversity protection, mental health and wellbeing, and responsible consumption and production, all tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Junk Kouture continues to provide a platform for youth to creatively amplify their voices and become changemakers in their communities.
The designs were evaluated by a prestigious judging panel of experts in sustainability and fashion including Claire Garvey, renowned Irish couture designer, Mariusz Malon, fashion designer and Junk Kouture alumnus and Zeda the Architect aka Oyindamola Animashaun a visual artist, stylist, journalist and producer.
RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player will air the Dublin City Final on Monday, May 19 at 7pm, capturing all the action, glamour, and heart of the show.
Viewers can also hear from Clodagh Ramsey, the reigning Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year, on RTÉjr’s climate and nature podcast, Ecolution, as she reflects on her journey and offers insights into the impact of creative sustainability.
The special episode will be available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms on May 14.
SEE ALSO – Laois nine-year-old undertaking 1km swim to raise funds for Irish Cancer Society
