WATCH: Dunshaughlin design in 'Junk Kouture'

Noelle Finegan

Published: Thu 31 Mar 2016, 11:48 AM

Last updated: Thu 31 Mar 2016, 12:51 PM

Voting is now open ahead of the grand final of the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture fashion competition, where Dunshaughlin Community College is flying the flag for Meath.
Junk Kouture is a national contest which encourages young designers in second level education to create striking couture designs and impressive works of wearable art from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin.
Dunshaughlin Community College students Tom Watte and Olivia Flanagan have made it through to the grand final after being selected as the ‘wildcard’ in the western region. Tom designed the ‘Amberle’ creation which will be modelled by Olivia.

Over 1,150 designs were entered into this year’s Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture competition. Junk judges had a tough job in choosing only 320 of these to compete in the regional finals which were held across the country at the beginning of March and this 320 became just 80.
The 80 finalists including the team from Dunshaughlin Community College are now seeking support from the public with online voting now open. Online votes can be cast until 12 midnight on Friday, 8th April. Votes can be cast through the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture voting app, which is accessed through the BOIStudents Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BOIstudents)
Individuals can cast a single vote every 24 hours. Votes account for 10 per cent of the final mark and can make a huge difference in such a heated competition.
The 80 finalists will battle it out at the Grand Final on 14th April in the 3Arena, in the hope of becoming the 2016 Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture champion.
Bank of Ireland is encouraging students to think innovatively about how they gather support through the voting app with a special Bank of Ireland Enterprise Award in the mix for the most innovative designer at the Grand Final.
Junk Kouture aims to inspire and ignite passion in these teenagers while at the same time subtly educating them about the importance of recycling and reusing waste. Over the last five years, Junk Kouture has established itself as the premier recycled fashion competition for teenagers throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.