Creative KCS students reach National Junk Kouture Final with Futuristic Design
Students from Kinsale Community School celebrated a major achievement this week as their design Augmented Humanity reached the Junk Kouture All-Ireland Final, which took place last night at The Helix Centre for the Performing Arts at Dublin City University.
Transition Year students Abhilina Ní Riain, Aoife Ferguson and Hollie O’Donovan impressed judges with their futuristic design created entirely from electronic waste. Their work stood out among more than 1,200 entries from across Ireland to secure a place at the national final of the highly competitive sustainable fashion competition.
The striking gown was constructed using discarded Cat 6 data cables, keyboard keys and printed circuit boards. The students spent months carefully stripping and weaving kilometres of cable to create a fabric-like structure that formed the base of the dress, before incorporating the electronic components to create a dramatic high-fashion piece.
Their design, titled Augmented Humanity, explores the relationship between humans and technology and imagines a future where intelligent clothing merges with the human body. The concept was inspired by science fiction films such as The Matrix and The Fifth Element, while also highlighting the environmental impact of electronic waste.
The materials for the dress were supplied by local Kinsale computer company Elasnik who supported the project by collecting electronic waste components that the students could repurpose.
Alongside Augmented Humanity, another Kinsale Community School design, Fade2Grey, created by Transition Year student Phoenix Boniwell, also reached the Junk Kouture regional finals. The students, accompanied by teachers Ms Kelly and Ms Roccaforte, travelled to The Helix to present their designs.
Junk Kouture challenges students aged 12 to 19 year olds to design and create high-fashion outfits using recycled materials that would otherwise go to landfill. The competition has grown into a global platform celebrating creativity, sustainability and environmental awareness.
The success of Augmented Humanity in reaching the All-Ireland final is a significant achievement for the students and reflects the dedication, creativity and months of work that went into bringing the design to life. Their work also draws attention to the growing issue of electronic waste. Research shows that Irish consumers generated more than 11 million items of “invisible” e-waste in 2023, including cables, chargers and small electronic devices that are often forgotten in drawers or discarded without being recycled. By transforming discarded technology into wearable art, the students hoped to raise awareness about the importance of repair, reuse, upcycling and responsible recycling.
The achievement marks a proud moment for Kinsale Community School and highlights the creativity and innovation of its Transition Year students on a national stage.
