'We're super excited' Laois Junk Kouture team set for Abu Dhabi world final

Three creative Laois students and their art teacher are flying to the Middle East to represent the county and Ireland at the first Junk Kouture World Finals.

The first world finals of the secondary school fashion recycling competition, will be held at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on January 11 January 2023.

The iconic gold venue will host the high-octane event celebrating youth creativity, sustainability, performance and self-expression. 

Alison Dalton from Ratheniska, Emma Tuohy from Vicarstown and Orlaith McNamara from Timahoe had created ‘Minima’ during their Transition Year last year, and it was one of nine Irish creations chosen to go on to the world final. Judges Louis Walsh, Roz Purcell, Soulé and Stephen McLaughlin chose them to represent Ireland last May.

They are excited to represent Ireland at the glittering world final. among ten Irish finalists.

"We’re super excited for Abu Dhabi, and so thrilled that we get such an amazing opportunity. We can’t wait," they told the Leinster Express / Laois Live this week.

They went on to feature on the Late Late Show.

The title of their design, Minima, translates to ‘tiny’ in Latin and the outfit is made up of over 100,000 tiny styrofoam beads from an old beanbag chair, medical bandaging and wire hangers.

It was inspired by the trio’s favourite designer, Zac Posen, and his celebration of femininity and elegance in his work.

At the World Final, there will be six individual City Designer Awards for each location plus the first-ever Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year. Other prizes up for grabs include the Glamour Award, Wearable Art Award, Innovation Award and a Performance Award.

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Sixty designs and their teams from schools in New York, London, Milan, Paris and Dublin will all be flown to Abu Dhabi to compete for the title of World Designer of the Year.

Junk Kouture is open to 13-18-year-olds and challenges young people to design, upcycle and create high end Kouture from recycled Junk, before showcasing their design and representing their school on stages across the world!

The girls will be accompanied by their art teacher Fiona Fitzpatrick (Connolly) from Mountmellick.