All four groups from Our Lady’s Bower competing in the western regional finals of this year’s ERP Junk Kouture have qualified for the national final. The regional event took place in the Hodson Bay Hotel on Sunday, 25 March where over eighty groups competed for the coveted places in the finals. In fact, the standard was so high that the judges allowed an extra four costumes to go forward to the final in City West, Dublin on 20 April.
Junk Kouture is an All-Ireland competition for second level students who are challenged to make high fashion couture from old everyday junk. Last year there were over 1,000 entries from north and south, and this year’s competition promises to be bigger and better as it has the support of the ERP, the European Recycling Platform.
The entries from the Bower were the product of hard work and the inspiration of art teachers Oonagh Kelly and Ciara Henriques. “Heart of the Ocean” designed by Grainne Whyte, Jessica White and Harriet Kenny is constucted from seaweed and old diving equipment. “Material Girl” from Mary Diffley, Isabel Gray and Abigail Korzeniewski is a riot of colour from fabric samples. “Eala Dubh”, a ballerina’s tutu made from feathers and plastic bin bags by Shauna Coffey, Megan Lynch and Aiveen Digby, comes to life on dancer Shauna. Bairbre O’Dwyer models “Agitato con Grazia”, a costume reminiscent of the Venice carnival, made entirely from Nespresso coffee pods with team mates Mairin Ryan, Fiona Hyland and Riona O’Madagain.
Two groups will contest the southern finals in Limerick, having been away on an exchange until now. One outfit made from orange peel would brighten up the dullest day, while a costume made from shells and fishing net is a delicate study of subtle blues and greys. Good luck to the students involved – Katie Brill, Emily Henshaw, Anna Keegan, Emily Connell, Jane Henshaw, Liadh Beirne and Orla McGetrick.