Louise Moore, hoping parents and friends will support her St. Fanchea’s college’s entries in the Junka Tour Semi-final by phoning in for their favourite costume
STUDENTS from St Fanchea’s College, Enniskillen are turning their old junk into fashion and making waves in an All-Ireland competition.
Four designs created by students in Year 11 are through to the regional finals of the ‘Junk Kouture’ competition, held in the Millennium Forum, Derry, on Friday March 8.
Junk Kouture is an all-Ireland competition for Post-Primary students, which challenges young people to create high-end wearable fashion from old everyday junk that would normally find its way to the bin.
The aim is to educate students on the importance of sustainability, while giving them an outlet for their creativity.
It all started last September, when their Art and Design teacher Mrs Paula Britton suggested that they enter the competition.
The work also forms part of their GCSE Art and Design portfolio. The students were very keen to participate and so began the hard work.
During this time they looked at the work of fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen to provide inspiration and had to consider ideas/themes, create designs, collect scrap materials and carry out experiments before starting to make their final creations.
The idea was to create something extra-ordinary from the ordinary and the students have certainly done this.
Mrs Britton commented on the achievements of her pupils:
“It was quite a challenge for the young GCSE students considering that the competition is open to all post-primary students including AS, A2 and Transition Year students.
“However, they certainly rose to the challenge and their hard work and dedication was rewarded when the Northern Regional finals were announced last week.”
The four creations chosen for the regional finals were: ‘Lady Luck’ by Bella Henderson, Chelsea Collins and Jessica Mellor, ‘Ms Fashionista’ by Cassie Mohan, ‘Homage to Klimt’ by Stephanie Simms, Keira Elliott and Jessica Kwan and ‘Rock DJ’ created by Krista Maguire and Michaela Maguire.
The students are currently working on their performances for the show under the direction of Miss Ciara Cassidy PE teacher and Miss Marie Wray (dance teacher).
On Friday afternoon there was a great deal of excitement in the college Assembly hall when the four students modelled their creations on the catwalk in front of the whole school including staff.
This was no ordinary fashion show, however, as it was transformed into St. Fanchea’s College version of the “Harlem Shake”. Everyone, staff and students alike had lots of fun and the atmosphere was amazing. St. Fanchea’s College version of the “Harlem Shake” can be viewed on “You Tube”.
You can vote for the girl’s designs online at www.junkkouture.com and the students are hoping the people of Fermanagh get behind them.
Voting began on Monday and closes at midnight on Friday March 1.