IN PICTURES: Five Laois semi-finalists chosen for Junk Kouture school eco fashion competition

Five Laois designs from four secondary schools have made it through to the 2024 Junk Kouture Regional Final.

Heywood Community School near Ballinakill leads the Laois contingent with two of the five entries.

Freezin Friesian and Reclaim Her Game are the two cryptic titles of their senior students' projects. 

Reclaim Her Game is by  Katie Ryan, Charlotte Barry, Ava Kelly.

The dress is made from revived old sports gear. GAA cones from Shanahoe LGFA turned into skirt flowers. Mesh wire from a storm-damaged fence shaped the dress. Donated medals filled the skirt, showcasing community support. The top, woven with medal strings, embodies Shanahoe's unity.

Mountrath Community School's entry Heart Stoppin Fashion has also made it through.

Coláiste Iosagáin in Portarlington has won a place with a fairytale project called Who's the Fairest of Them All.

Made from hundreds of playing cards, bottle caps and tins and inspired by Disney villains, it was created by Leah Donagher, Jodie Philips and Lucy Hibbitts. They were guided by teachers Roxanne McGee and Gillian Kelly. 

A Mountmellick Community School team is through with a outfit called Sea Stranglers.

The team are Emily-May O’Reilly, Muireann Dunne and Alli Coughlan, all from Transition Year. The girls used a variety of materials including used plastic hair foils from a local hairdressers. They collected and cleaned each used foil to make this mermaid style outfit.

Junk Kouture an international student fashion competition, that invites them to make couture out of recycled objects, sponsored by Etihad Airways and Deloitte.

Junk Kouture announced the 80 finalists chosen out of 1,200 entries on St Valentine's Day, February 14.

"Can’t wait to see each of you take to the JK catwalk in The Helix, Dublin on Mon 4th March We’ll be in touch with finalist teachers very soon.