Clodagh returns Junk Kouture winner to nature

Now that she is home from the Junk Kouture World Final, Clodagh Ramsey is planning to return the living materials she used in her award winning creation to the soil by making a decorative planter – showing life after Junk Kouture.

Clodagh, a student at Wilson’s Hospital School, won the Innovation Award at the Junk Kouture World Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

As previously reported, Clodagh created a dress called ‘Bohemian Pampas Tree’, which is living and requires daily water, air and light.

She was recognised as a designer who explored and applied the most original choice of recycled materials and manipulation techniques in her unique creation.

Junk Kouture is the world’s largest youth sustainability fashion competition for students aged 13 to 18 years from participating schools across Ireland, the UK, Italy, France, UAE and USA.

For the world final, Clodagh, who is from Killucan, travelled to Abu Dhabi with her teacher Justyna Byrne and her mother Amanda.

As part of her prize, they travelled to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways and stayed in the Crowne Plaza - Yas Island Hotel for the duration of the trip.

The location of the hotel was in walking distance to some of the Yas Island sights and attractions including the Etihad Arena, where the competition took place.

Clodagh competed against 55 other contestants from New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Milan, Paris and Dublin in the Etihad Arena on January 11. The event was hosted by Maz Hakim, a radio presenter on Virgin Radio in Dubai, and Sean Treacy, 18-year-old filmmaker and presenter from Wicklow.

All contestants were judged by well known figures, including Lise Pierron, one of the faces of Valentino Beauty from Paris, Fabio Piras, fashion designer and educator at one of the most influential and globally recognised fashion colleges, Central Saint Martins in London, and Mehreen Baig, broadcaster, author and teacher from London.

Clodagh impressed the judges with the first Junk Kouture living design. They praised her for using sustainable and organic materials, including fluffy pampas grass, moss and black grass, all borrowed from nature.

She had kept her boho-inspired dress alive by watering the moss and grass twice a day for the 12 months leading up to the finals.

Her commitment and work paid off and Clodagh received the Innovation Award, which recognises unique and most original use of materials and manipulation techniques.

Clodagh was interviewed by Seán Treacy after the presentation of her award and that interview is available to view on the Wilson’s Hospital School’s social media sites.

Entertainment during the Junk Kouture World Finals was by DJ Michelle, the youngest professional female DJ in the world, and the Irish boyband Next in Line performed on stage.

Apart from competing in the Etihad Arena, the contestants and their educators visited places and sites of the Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Junk Kouture also organised a trip to the World’s Largest Indoor Theme Park - Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.

Now that the competition is over, Clodagh is planning to return the living materials to the soil by making a decorative planter – showing life after Junk Kouture.

The Wilson’s Hospital School community, her family and friends are proud of Clodagh. She is not only one of the youngest designers in the Junk Kouture competition, but also a great advocate for climate change action. Her passion, creativity and hard work are inspirational to many.