Posted on 27th November 2019
Winners of a €1,000 fashion design pack announced at a fashion showcase event in the Rediscovery Centre
Four local authorities have come together to create the Relove Fashion competition that encourages secondary school students to take a deeper look at the environmental impact of their clothing. The idea for the competition came from the Environmental Awareness Officers in Wicklow County Council, Westmeath County Council, Dublin City Council and Meath County Council. During this competition, students explored reuse as an option for both acquiring clothing and extending its useful life.
The sixteen regional finalists were invited to attend the Relove Fashion showcase on the 21st of November at the Rediscovery Centre in Dublin. During the showcase the students displayed their upcycled outfits. The runner up was Olive Jagha from Columba College, Killucan, Co. Westmeath. The overall winner was announced as Diane Hrisovescu, Larkin Community College in Dublin. Diane won a fashion design pack for her school that includes tools, equipment and mentoring to the value of €1000. Each of the finalists won a tour and a fashion workshop at the Rediscovery Centre for their class.
The Relove Fashion competition encourages students to take a deeper look at clothing and to explore creative reuse options such as upcycling, repairs, alterations and mending. Entrants had to source clothing from three reuse options including charity shops, swapsie events or by taking an item of clothing from an older relative and reimagining it for a younger generation.
The students were judged by Dr. Joanne O’Rourke from Eastern Midlands West Region, Audrey Rutherford Eco Store Manager at the Rediscovery Centre and Arran Murphy Programme Manager for Rediscover Fashion.
Judge Arran Murphy said “The quality of the submissions was excellent. Each of the students had carefully considered the environmental impacts of their pieces, who would wear the finished product and how to construct a wearable garment. This competition was a great platform for students to highlight their design and repair skills to create a new garment from existing clothing.”
James Callery, Environmental Awareness Officer at Wicklow County Council said “The fashion and textile industry is one of the most polluting industries and contributes to 10% of all greenhouse gases. However, extending the lifespan of clothing can reduce the environmental impacts by up to 60% and hence the inspiration for the Relove Fashion competition. This is the first year for this competition but with the interest shown by students and schools we will be hoping to expand and build on it in the years to come”
