Sustainability was at the centre of the competition, with all participants required to align their designs with at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
The 16th Junk Kouture World Final, held to promote youth creativity and circular innovation, took place in the Helix theatre in Dublin City University (DCU) and featured sixty innovative teams from Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, the USA and the UAE.
On the judging panel were creative director Cory Infinite, leading Irish designer Claire Garvey and Dublin-based visual artist Zeda onboard who assessed the entries, while the ceremony was presented by RTÉ 2FM’s Fionnuala Moran.
Designers Alexandra Giltenane, Lauren O’Neill and Sarah Kinnane
Sustainability was at the centre of the competition, with all participants required to align their designs with at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Featured costumes were made entirely from all and any recycled materials such as coffee pods, bike chains and tarpaulin.
All designs were evaluated by a judging panel of experts in sustainability, fashion, education, and entertainment.
Winning design, Carousel Couture, was the brain child of fifth-year students Lauren O’Neill, Alexandra Giltenane and Sarah Kinnane from Salesian Secondary College, Co Limerick whose work was “inspired by clowns and circus ideas” and took the form of a spinning carousel.
Marie-Antoinette À La Rose worn by Laura Peterfalvi, Lycée Professionnel Ferdinand Buisson, France, made from newspapers, transport tickets and magazines during the Junk Kouture World Final at the Helix in Dublin. Niall Carson/PA Wire
The group have been working throughout recent months to bring their ambitious design to life, transforming discarded materials into a show-stopping fashion piece.
(left-right) Gear Glamour, Miss Mares, Torn by Motor Neurone Disease, Mirrorball, The War Between The Land and The Sea and Golden Phoenix Fortune, designs made entirely from recycled materials during the Junk Kouture World Final at the Helix in Dublin. Niall Carson/PA Wire
Speaking prior to the competition, Salesian Secondary College principal Keith O’Rahilly stold the team: “You’re already winners before you ever go up to the event.”
Emilija Milasiute wearing her design La La Lu Veil, made from plastic milk bottles, plastic packaging straps, and pearl beads, Isabel Ryder wearing her design Blazing Muse, which she created with Niamh Donohoe and Lilly Mangan out of recycled materials and Marie-Antoinette À La Rose, worn by Laura Peterfalvi of Lycée Professionnel Ferdinand Buisson, France, created from newspapers, transport tickets, and magazines during the Junk Kouture World Final at The Helix, Dublin. Niall Carson/PA Wire
Other Irish winners on the night were Emilija Milasiute of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Co Westmeath whose La La Lu Veil design consisting of plastic milk bottles, plastic packaging straps and pearl beads won the Purposeful Plastic Award.
Isabel Ryder wears her design Blazing Muse, which she created with Niamh Donohoe and Lilly Mangan out of recycled materials, during the Junk Kouture World Final at The Helix in Dublin. Picture date: Tuesday February 24, 2026. Niall Carson/PA Wire
Lucia Revuelta of Elphin Community College, Co Roscommon and Beth Brady from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Navan won the Cultural Couture Award and Innovation Award, respecively, producing innovative designs centres around maritime culture and medical materials.
Other entrants included transport-themed dress, Gear Glamour by Ellen Chapman, Anna Murphy, Kayla Butler of Ramsgrange Community School, Wexford, made from wheel spokes, tyre tubes, bicycle covers, tyres, chains and brake cables to promote cycling as an eco-friendly transport alternative.
Hanyun Xu from Liceo Artistico Enzo Rossi in Italy, wears Golden Phoenix Fortune, created by Asia Rubini and Viviana Furgiuele and made from fortune cookie wrappers, old tablecloths, and packaging, during the Junk Kouture World Final at the Helix in Dublin. Niall Carson/PA Wire
The 16th instalment of the competition saw last years’ winner Clodagh Ramsey from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath taking home the World Designer title.
Her dress Aquacultural was constructed from 2,000 Irish blue mussel shells that she collected from a local Italian restaurant.
Ms Ramsey created the dress as a message to highlight food insecurity in Ireland and beyond.
Teachers Sinead Cahill (left) from Tipperary and Gabriela Budaite (right) from Meath make final adjustments to a couture design worn by student Rachel Bruce, Torn by Motor Neurone Disease, made entirely from recycled materials, during the Junk Kouture World Final at the Helix in Dublin. Niall Carson/PA Wire