Caoimhe recycles chic

A 13-YEAR-OLD Ennis pupil has given  new meaning to the phrase ‘throwaway fashion’, with her latest cutting edge creation made from recycled material set to hit the catwalk next month.
Caoimhe McCabe’s fashion design has made it to the regional finals of the prestigious ERP Junk Kouture Recycled Fashion Competition, which will take place with a fashion show the Strand Hotel, Limerick on April 1.
The second year Coláiste Muire pupil  has designed an outfit based around the theme ‘A Winter’s Garden’, with bubble wrap and paper flowers among the key elements of her creation.
Caoimhe, from the Quin Road, told The Clare Champion she is thrilled to have made it so far in the competition and she can’t wait to see her design modelled on the catwalk.
“I’ve always liked art and craft so I was really interested in taking part in this competition and myself and a group of friends designed a recycled dress last year for a school fashion show. For this design, we could create something on any theme and I was inspired by an orchid I saw in my kitchen. I liked the idea of the flower and the bare branch.
“I was really excited and surprised to find out that I’d made it to the regional finals, there are around 70 contestants but only 15 will go to the grand final in Dublin. The competition has been a great experience so far,” she said.
As well as being judged at the fashion show in Limerick, the competing designs will also be put up for a public vote. Fans of Caoimhe’s design can vote for her on www.erpjunkkouture.com.
Coláiste Muire art teacher Niamh Hickey noted, “All of us here at the Coláiste are very proud of Caoimhe; she has done a fantastic job. We’re hoping that people will get behind her and vote”.
The competition, which is in its second year, sets the challenge to budding fashion designers among secondary school pupils, inviting them to re-work trash and other already-used materials and craft them into high-end couture fashion for both men and women.
The competition promotes sustainability, especially the recycling of electrical waste and the compulsory integration of electrical waste into the design forms part of the challenge. The competition received phenomenal interest from the south, with the top 70 creations selected to go through to the regional final.
Speaking about the regional final, ERP Junk Kouture co-ordinator Elizabeth O’Donnell said, “We were delighted with the level of interest we received from the region and the outfits that will be showcased in Limerick are truly remarkable. ERP Junk Kouture is a fantastic platform to educate students on the importance of sustainability while giving them an outlet for their creativity.
“Those attending the shows are also encouraged to do their bit for the environment and will receive a €5 discount voucher on their ticket if they bring along 20 used batteries or 10 small electrical items for recycling.”
Head of corporate communications at ERP and judge on the night, Yvonne Holmes added, “We are really looking forward to our southern regional final where I am sure we will be blown away by the creativity on show.
“Students also have to carefully consider what role sustainability plays in their design concept, which makes them think twice about their attitude to recycling and encourage behavioural change,” she concluded.