It was a full house at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone recently for the Western Regional Final of the ERP Junk Kouture Recycled Fashion Competition which saw the top 80 entries from the west take to the catwalk in their self-made creations. The competition, which is in its second year, challenges second level students to rework trash and other recycled materials into remarkable high-end couture fashion. Milliner Rachel Feeley, visual artist Ann Eingfield, dressmaker and designer Terry McGann, and head of corporate communications at ERP Ireland Yvonne Holmes judged on the night and were blown away by the standard and variety on show.
Ten teams of Westmeath students were among the 24 selected outfits that will now go through to the grand final. They were:
Agitato con Grazia by Mairin Ryan, Fiona Hyland, and Bairbre O’Dwyer, Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone
Eala Dubh by Shauna Coffey, Megan Lynch, and Aiveen Digby, Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone
Electric Boy by Rachael Rabbitt and Jordan O’Reilly, Mullingar Community College, Mullingar
Material Girl by Abigail Korzeniewski, Isabel Boles Gray, and Mary Diffley, Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone
Heart of The Ocean by Grainne White, Harriet Kenny, and Jessica White, Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone
Multicoloured Brolly by Victoria Torralbo and Amparo de Corral, Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham, Mullingar
Matériau de la Nature by Isobel, Sorcha, and Molly, Moate Community School, Moate
Romanesque Goddess by Megan Corcoran, Aoife Jenkins, and Chloe Renshaw Colgan, St. Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge
Sporkatus by Ellen Sheerin, Michelle Maxwell, and Jean Henson, Moate Community School, Moate
Wild Alamode by Alice Duffy, Brenda O’Brien, and Alex O’Riordan, Moate Community School, Moate
ERP Junk Kouture coordinator Elizabeth O’Donnell said, “The standard at the western regional final was outstanding. The creativity and ingenuity of all participating students is truly remarkable and it was a very difficult decision for the judges. I would encourage those who were not successful not to be disheartened and hope that they participate again next year.”
The qualifying students will now go through to the Grand Final which will take place at City West Hotel, Dublin on April 20. The generous prize includes €2,000 for the winning school, €500 for the winning team, €1,000 worth of IT equipment and a week-long design course at the Grafton Academy of Fashion Design, Dublin. For more information on the competition, log on to www.erpjunkkouture.com
