Pres / St. Pats Junk Kouture Teams Qualify for Regional Finals

The creation ‘Feach Anois Go Curamach’ being Model, Maria Daly with fellow students and designers, Grainne O’Connor and Aisling Kearney with their regional finals entry and photographed by art teacher Katie O’Reilly.
Ian O’Neill, St. Patrick’s Secondary School with his ‘Stitched Back to Life’ entry which has qualified for the regional Junk Kouture finals in UL next month. Photograph: Katie O’Reilly

The joint Transition Year Programme of Presentation Secondary School and St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Castleisland recently received great news.

Their Junk Kouture teams have qualified with two entries for the regional finals of the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture competition in UL on March 8th.

Wearable Pieces of Art

“Junk Kouture is a competition run throughout Ireland for secondary school students where entrants are expected to make wearable pieces of art out of recycled items.

This year’s successful students are: Maria Daly, Aisling Kearney and Grainne O’Connor with their dress aptly named Feach Anois Go Curamach made solely from recycled Junior Cert exam papers and the accompanying CDs, and Ian O’Neill, with his ensemble Stitched Back to Life created from a combination of old and used leather collected from boots, bags and jackets.

Art Class Inspiration

Both groups worked on their design during art class and after school on Monday evenings.

“Exposure to this competition greatly benefits our students as it develops their confidence in design while also increasing their appreciation of the many opportunities available to them in the world of fashion,” said Presentation Castleisland art teacher Katie O’Reilly.

Range of Skills

“The students develop a wide range of skills in the weeks of preparation of their costume. I know from working with the students that this competition brings out the best in them and allows them to build their own confidence as young designers.

“For many it opens the window of opportunity to possible careers in this exciting field.

Contemporary Design Ideas

“It is a fantastic opportunity for young aspiring designers, as it encourages their creativity, and celebrates their contemporary design ideas. Each year, aspiring young designers from our TY Art class enter the competition. The imagination, dedication and enthusiasm needed for this competition is not taken lightly by the students.

Oscar de la Renta

“The four young designers are now looking forward to the regional finals on the March 8th next in University of Limerick.

“As Oscar de la Renta once put it: ‘Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.’

“We wish them every success at the finals,” Ms. O’Reilly concluded.

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