London Calling!
10 winning designs announced for Junk Kouture World Final in London 12th October 2023
Watch all the action from 3Arena on RT 2 and RT Player on 18th May at 7pm
An Post unveil booklet of Junk Kouture stamps
While all eyes were on the Met Gala earlier in the week, last night Thursday 4th May was the turn of 80 up-and-coming eco-conscious creators and fashion designers at the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final Powered by RT in 3Arena, Dublin. Ten haute-couture designs made from 100% recycled materials were chosen by Louis Wash, Keilidh Cashell, Tara Kumar and Stephen McLaughlin to compete at the 2023 Junk Kouture World Final in Ovo Arena Wembley in London on 12th October.
Technical judge and Programme Director for Fashion Design at Griffith College Jane Leavey has worked behind the scenes this year to help the judging panel select nine worthy designs, while RT Lifestyle Editor Sinann Fetherston was RT 's representative at the final helping the judges award the RT World Finalist title, making up the 10 winning designs. The designs will battle it out against 50 other teams from Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Milan and New York in London to become the World Designer of the Year!
Without further ado, and in no particular order, the 10 winners were:
Invidia' modelled by Ailish Doherty of Carndonagh Community School, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, made from shoe boxes and a shower curtain. Designers are Ailish Doherty, Julia Grant and Ciara Gilmore.
Drowning Duchess' modelled and designed by Eabha Byrnes of St. Anne's Secondary School, Tipperary made from pool floats and inflatables.
STEMinist' designed by Vanessa Kielty, Martha Nugent and Mary McNulty of Elphin Community College, Elphin, Co. Roscommon, created to encourage more girls to become involved in STEM subjects. Made from old electrical wiring and a copper water cylinder, nuts and bolts, rusted corrugated iron, high-vis jacket, disused landscape netting, tool mats, gears and plastic.
Fallen Angel' by Alexa Alexandrina of St. Kevin's Community College, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. Made from old sheets, foil and playing cards.
Le Nouveau Riche' by Theo Connolly of Dundalk Grammar School, Louth, made using waste from vaccine centres.
Tonnes of Tradition' by Aisha Khan, Khadija Bibi and Harjass Kau of Col iste Nano Nagle, Limerick, made from tonne bags, wool, up-cycled curtains, curtain rings, wires, keys and bed sheets.
The Muse' by Asia O'Riordan and Erris Lindsay from Blessington Community College. Made of beads, bingo cards, wool, sticks of willow, old denim, fabrics and paint.
Ragnor R ' designed by Leah Higgins and modelled by Joshua Whelan of Clarin College, Athenry, Co. Galway, made from recycled faux furs and leather offcuts, car timing belts, broken studs and buckles from a local shoemaker embellish the design. The design is adapted to meet the mobility and wearability needs of a wheelchair user.
#TagME' designed by Eva Donlon, Evie Nugent and M abh O'Shea of Moate Community School, Westmeath. Made from plastic colour samples for various plastic objects - they've used over 2,500 tags, handsewn together. These samples usually end up in landfill because the different colours make them difficult to recycle.
RT Finalist The Eye of the Beholder' modelled by Lauren Egan of Ursuline Secondary School, Templemore Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary made from discarded tents, garden hose and an old builder's helmet. Designers are Zoe Whelan, Lauren Egan and Shauna Walsh.
While the judges deliberated, RT 2FM Rising artist Ryan Mack performed three tracks Only Human , Overwhelmed , Forever & Ever & Always . If you weren't there on the night, you can catch all the action of the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final Powered by RT on 18th May at 7pm on RT 2 and the RT Player as young filmmaker Se n Treacy, director, presenter and content creator rla Morris Toolen and RT Jr presenter Mary Claire Fitzpatrick bring you all the highlights and backstage action from the final.
Keilidh Cashell said: We were blown away by the talent so it was a very tough task to choose just 10 designs from 80 incredible creations! Everything from train tickets to burst footballs were transformed into something new - I couldn't believe my eyes at times! I am glad it wasn't just down to me otherwise there'd be more than ten designs heading to the World Final! London, get ready there are some really quirky and cool designs headed your way!
Louis Walsh said: I've been judging Junk Kouture a long time and I can say it never gets any easier to choose the winners - but I think we've got this decision right! It was important we picked designs who really rocked the stage of 3Arena as the World Final is the biggest event in the Junk Kouture calendar - you've got to bring it to a new level! Best of luck to our top ten in London!
Group Head of Children's and Young People's Programming RT Suzanne Kelly said: The standard of sustainable designs and the creativity on show from students right across Ireland just seems to go from strength to strength as tonight's winning designs have powerfully demonstrated. We are delighted to be part of this unique and wonderful celebration of creativity from our young people and to share it, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, to audiences on RT 2, RT Player and the RT Kids Insta. The issues of sustainability and climate consciousness are so important to young people, and we are more than happy to use our platforms to keep these issues front and centre.
The 10 Junk Kouture World Finalists were not the only thing revealed in 3Arena on Thursday night! An Post unveiled a booklet of four Junk Kouture stamps at the Dublin City Final, featuring past designers and the iconic high-fashio
More from RTE
04/09/2026
RT ANNOUNCE NEW DRAMA THE MURDER OF MR. MOONLIGHT
BASED ON THE DISAPPEARANCE...
03/09/2026
First Class Takes is a new six-part series for RT KIDS that captures funny, hon...
02/09/2026
RT has today announced a major media partnership with Lidl around Katie Taylor's historic Croke Park clash with Flora Pili on Saturday, September 5th.
The...
01/09/2026
Join Donal Skehan in discovering the best of everyday Italian cooking in brand new series, airing Wednesday 2 September
In this brand-new series, Donal's I...
01/09/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to spotlight a diverse range of arts, cultu...
27/08/2026
Commissioned for RT KIDS as part of the EBU Kids' Drama Exchange The Note will premiere Sunday August 30, 5:10pm
RT One and RT Player
The Note tells a...
26/08/2026
As RT marks 100 years of public service broadcasting in Ireland, today we announce a season of fresh, original content, while preparing to move into a second c...
25/08/2026
The new series begins Tuesday 1 September at 7pm on RT One and RT Player
The search for Ireland's hidden housing gems is back as Cheap Irish Homes return...
24/08/2026
We Only Want the Earth: The Life & Ideas of James Connolly airs
Wednesday 26 August on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
RT is to air the compelling documenta...
21/08/2026
Beat The Lotto dives into the plot behind the 1980s National Lottery scandal
24 August 2026 at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player
Beat The Lotto is the story o...
21/08/2026
The countdown to the most wonderful night of the year has officially begun!
Host Patrick Kielty is gearing up for another unforgettable Late Late Toy Show nig...
21/08/2026
Meet puppet duo Bellie and Whizz, who are about to explore all the big feelings ...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
THE HEALY RAES: BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS AIRS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19 ON RT ONE AT 9:35PM
A new documentary The Healy-Raes: Blood, Sweat & Tears airs on RT One and ...
18/08/2026
Stunning Irish performances at European Athletics and Swimming Championships rea...
18/08/2026
The two-part series begins Sunday 23 August at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player
...
13/08/2026
RT 's Miriam O'Callaghan welcomed a range of specially invited guests to the National Concert Hall last week for a unique event to mark a new season wit...
11/08/2026
Hosts D ith S and Kathryn Thomas rose to the occasion on Tuesday (August 11)...
11/08/2026
A Day in May airs Wednesday 12 August at 9.35pm RT One and RT Player
A Day in May revisits the people and stories behind Ireland's historic marriage equa...
07/08/2026
The Traitors Ireland Uncloaked is also back with all the behind the scenes drama...
06/08/2026
In Time airs Monday 10 August at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Player
In Time is the first film account of the life of D nal Lunny, one of the most influential Iri...
31/07/2026
Athletics, Camogie, the Dublin Horse Show, the FAI Cup, Golf, Hockey, the UEFA C...
31/07/2026
RT Commercial has today announced Mercedes-Benz Ireland will return as the offi...
31/07/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to spotlight a diverse range of arts, culture and heritage events taking place across Ireland this August. From major festi...
30/07/2026
Broadcaster John Creedon explores Ireland's rich musical heritage Sunday 2 A...
29/07/2026
RT launches Unsolved, a true crime podcast, presented by crime journalist Barry Cummins and presenter Katja Mia.
Unsolved is a weekly podcast exploring unsol...
28/07/2026
RT Raidi na Gaeltachta, RT Radio 1, RT One and RT Player to showcase the best of the reels, rhymes and rambles from Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na h ireann 202...
28/07/2026
Through a wide range of perspectives, this documentary looks at how Ireland might navigate one of the defining political questions of the future
Wednesday, Jul...
27/07/2026
Yesterday witnessed truly memorable scenes in Croke Park, bringing the curtain d...
24/07/2026
Kerry and Mayo fans Up For The Match as excitement builds in Croke Park on the e...
23/07/2026
RT Commercial has today announced Centra as the official food partner once again of The Traitors Ireland, coming to RT One and RT Player later this year.
Ce...
23/07/2026
RT Commercial today announced Honda as sponsor of Today with David McCullagh RT Radio 1, weekdays 9am 11am.
Broadcasting directly after Morning Ireland in ...
23/07/2026
RT News is pleased to announce Barry Gallagher has been assigned as the new journalist covering news from Cork, Kerry and the wider Southern region
Working al...
22/07/2026
RT REPORTS NET SURPLUS OF 22.5 MILLION IN 2025...
22/07/2026
In the Opinion of the Censor airs Monday 27 July at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Player
In the Opinion of the Censor looks at how films for theatrical release wer...
21/07/2026
160 hours of Irish storytelling for 2026
KIN and The Walsh Sisters return
RT has today unveiled its most ambitious drama slate ever, with a record-breakin...
20/07/2026
FIFA World Cup Final sets new RT Player record as the most-streamed single event in the platform's history
Over 1 million viewers watched live on RT 2 as ...
17/07/2026
New and returning series, live festival broadcasts, powerful documentaries and major sporting moments headline RT Radio 1's summer schedule
RT Radio 1 is...
17/07/2026
Up For The Match - Live From Croke Park this Saturday at 8pm on RT One and RT ...
17/07/2026
RT Commercial has today announced DiscoverIreland.ie, as sponsor of The Traitor...
16/07/2026
Together the semi-finals had a combined reach of 1.98 million unique individuals...
15/07/2026
Trinity's Treasures features Ruth Negga, Eleanor McEvoy, and David Norris, a...
15/07/2026
Join geographer Dr Susan Hegarty, Engineer Tim Joyce and Architect Orla Murphy a...
13/07/2026
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Mag Raollaigh as the new Managing Editor of Nuacht, the Irish Language News and Current Affairs service a...
10/07/2026
New RT documentary explores Irish-led efforts to build bridges in divided Cyprus
More than a Game: From D1 to Pyla airs Monday 13 July
More Than a Game: Fro...
08/07/2026
Film follows the courageous fight for justice by survivors of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries & Mother and Baby Homes
TESTIMONY airs Wednesday 22 July at 9...
07/07/2026
To Whom It Concerns RT today confirmed that Patrick Kielty is to extend his contract as host of The Late Late Show.
Last season, the world's longest-runn...
06/07/2026
Fresh from his World Cup heroics with Cabo Verde, Roberto Pico' Lopes will join the RT panel for Argentina v Egypt tomorrow and for the England v Norway q...
06/07/2026
A death can be unsuspicious, but it has to be explained
What happened to Ke...
London Calling!
