Local student wins place in Junk Kouture Global Final

Local student and aspiring fashion designer Beth Brady has secured a place in the Global Final of Junk Kouture.

Junk Kouture, one of Ireland's most prestigious youth fashion competitions, challenges secondary school students to craft high-fashion outfits entirely from recycled materials.

Beth’s striking design, 'Golden Globe,' was one of ten finalists chosen from over 60 designs showcased at the Helix in Dublin last night to go on to represent Ireland in the world final.

Beth used discarded medical tweezers to create her eye-catching design. Her design is not just a couture creation—it’s a powerful statement on sustainability, calling for a global gold standard in reducing plastic waste.

This year, the competition saw an incredible 1,200 entries, which were narrowed down to 160 designs for the regional finals, held on Wednesday, 5th March. From there, only 60 talented designers were selected for the Dublin City Final, which took place in the Helix last night. Just ten designs were chosen by the judges to progress to the international final.

Beth, who is from Athboy is a student at St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School, Navan. She took on this challenge as a solo designer, creator, and performer, crafting her stunning gown from over 1,000 discarded plastic dressing tweezers.

These tweezers, which are never re-used but automatically thrown away once a sterile bandage package is opened, were collected from clinics across Meath and Dublin. Through ingenuity and dedication, Beth transformed them into an elegant, eco-conscious masterpiece.

Beth is no stranger to success and is already making a name for herself in the fashion world. In 2023, while in third year, she won the Relove Fashion Competition for her innovative and sustainability-focused daywear design. The competition highlights the importance of reducing textile waste—an urgent issue, as nearly 57 per cent of all discarded or donated clothes end up in landfill.

She also showcased her exceptional talent in the Project Fashion Young Designer of the Year Awards 2024 where she won first place in the Advanced Category and the Outstanding Achiever Award—a remarkable achievement in a competition known for its high standards.

Beth’s journey with Junk Kouture started in Transition Year, when she reached the Regional Finals alongside two other teams from her school. Now, through perseverance, dedication, and hard work, she has earned her place in the Global Final as a solo designer—proving that passion and determination truly pay off.

Beth’s ambition doesn’t stop here. After completing her Leaving Certificate, she hopes to pursue a degree in fashion at NCAD (National College of Art and Design), where she can continue honing her skills and pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion

St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School has congratulated Beth on securing a place in the Junk Kouture world final and also her art teacher Ms Connolly.

The Dublin Regional Final will be aired on Monday, 19th May at 7pm on RTE2 and RTE player capturing all the action, glamour, and heart of the event.