Ireland’s Young Sustainable Designers Rewrite Fashion’s Future at First Ever National Relove Fashion Awards
Dublin, Ireland – 8th May 2025
Ireland’s next generation of fashion design talent proved that the future is sustainable at the first-ever national Relove Fashion Grand Final.
The event, held at the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy on April 30th, saw awards being handed to 24 winners who dazzled the judges and audience alike. Each award winner took home an upcycled trophy, an expert-led sustainable fashion workshop, and the overall winners from each region took home €500 for fashion related tools and equipment for their schools.
As a counter-movement to challenge fast fashion, the competition encourages teenage designers from across the country to showcase innovative, upcycled outfits made entirely from preloved textiles – transforming everything from old cushion covers to moth-eaten berets into stylish, wearable fashion.
This year marked the competition’s expansion to 26 local authority areas, where over 400 young people aged 12–19 across Ireland were encouraged to rethink fast fashion and embrace creativity, building skills in reuse, repair, and redesign.
A total of 43 outfits reached the final, celebrating circular design, hands-on climate action, and the vibrant future of Irish fashion. Winning outfits included evening dresses elegantly upcycled from jeans, preloved shirts beautifully transformed into casual dresses, and a post-apocalyptic outfit crafted from old belts and roadside-found gloves.
The winners, listed below, were announced at the Grand Final, which was attended by over 150 people, MC performer Paul Ryder and supported by the Department of Environment, National Waste Regions and the judging panel.
The panel of judges included Laura de Barra, author of No.1 bestsellers Garment Goddess, Gaff Goddess and Decor Galore; Lorraine Keane, IFTA-nominated broadcaster , journalist, businesswoman and philanthropist; Joanne Rourke, representing Dublin City Council and the National Waste Regions; and Arran Murphy, Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion.
Eastern-Midlands Waste Region:
- Best Casual: Veronika Zbigley, Bush Post Primary School, Louth County Council
- Best Evening: Edena Foot, Loreto Secondary Bray, Wicklow County Council
- Best Tailoring: Vivienne Cleary, Our Lady’s Bower, Westmeath County Council
- Best Research: Minaal Ashraf, Pearl Arzaga, Annamaria Radu, Elena Lawrence, Abigail Nelmida & Salma Nofal, Mercy Beaumont, Dublin City Council
- Most Innovative: Sophie Clarke & Mia Farquharson, Loreto St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin City Council
- Overall Winner: Elizabeth Cooper, Colaiste Clavin, Meath County Council
Connaught-Ulster Waste Region:
- Best Casual: Cara McLaughlin, Spraoi Agus Sport, Donegal County Council
- Best Evening: Elżbieta Klonowska, St Louis Community School, Mayo County Council
- Best Tailoring: Orla Jackson, Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, Roscommon County Council
- Best Research: Evelina Zilakauska, Adam Hawrylo & Ola Mamala, Gort Community School, Galway County Council
- Most Innovative: Oliver Lawson-Smith, Foroige – Alternatives Programme, Monaghan County Council
- Overall Winner: Davin Coyle, Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Donegal County Council
Southern Waste Region:
- Best Casual: Katherine Blake, Bruac Eile, Good Shepherd Services, Cork City Council
- Best Evening: Evelyn Flynn, Loreto Secondary School Kilkenny, Kilkenny County Council
- Best Tailoring: Kayla Connellan & Megan Harding, Coláiste Muire Ennis, Clare County Council
- Best Research: Cara Moore, Teresa Neta & Emma Kiely, Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Cork County Council
- Most Innovative: Megan Byrne & Eimear O’Gorman, Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed Thurles, Tipperary County Council
- Overall Winner: Brigh Harkin, Presentation Castleisland, Kerry
Overall Nationwide Winners:
- Best Casual: Cara McLaughlin, Spraoi Agus Sport, Donegal County Council
- Best Evening: Edena Foot, Loreto Secondary Bray, Wicklow County Council
- Best Tailoring: Orla Jackson, Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, Roscommon County Council
- Best Research: Cara Moore, Teresa Neta & Emma Kiely, Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Cork County Council
- Most Innovative: Oliver Lawson-Smith, Foroige – Alternatives Programme, Monaghan County Council
- Overall Winner: Brigh Harkin, Presentation Castleisland, Kerry
“It has been incredible to see so many teenagers taking part in the competition this year. The dedication and creativity in each and every entry was astounding. One of the best things about the competition is its ripple effects which reach beyond the participants, to friends, schools, and families - inspiring change, and promoting repair and reuse skills, which are so important for our circular future. We are unbelievably proud of how far this competition has come, and are delighted to be able to now offer it to teenagers across Ireland.”
Arran Murphy, Head Judge of Relove Fashion and Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion
“It was stunning to see such innovative uses for items that usually cannot be used in circular fashion due to their composition or condition after use - such as tights, bedding, mixed synthetics and so on. The techniques used to elevate the designs were also extremely impressive, from crochet to detailed hand embroidery to patchwork. Undeniable talent in this room!”
Laura de Barra, judge of Relove Fashion author of No.1 bestsellers Garment Goddess, Gaff Goddess and Decor Galore
“I loved the story that the outfits told, and the strong message that they conveyed about the need for less consumption and more circular fashion. The Waste Regions are so proud to have been part of this competition since the beginning, we look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength. The practical design skills and problem solving capacity that students develop when working on their Relove Fashion projects are the sorts of skills needed to move towards a circular economy."
Joanne Rourke, Relove Fashion judge representing Dublin City Council and the National Waste Regions
The Relove Fashion Competition proves that style doesn’t have to cost the earth – and that Ireland’s young people are ready to lead the charge for a circular fashion future!
About Relove Fashion
This trailblazing competition was developed in response to the devastating environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry, the need for change, and the recognition of young people’s pivotal role in shaping innovative solutions. By providing students with the opportunity to learn about where their clothes are from, and showcase their creativity while promoting sustainable fashion practices, the competition encourages a shift towards a more circular and sustainable society.
The competition is textile based and skills based, aiming to bridge the repair skills gap evident in younger generations.
The competition is funded through a partnership between the National Waste Regions, participating local authorities, and the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy.
For more information about Relove Fashion, and to register your interest for next year, please visit www.relovefashion.ie.
About the Rediscovery Centre
The Rediscovery Centre is the National Centre for the Circular Economy in Ireland. A creative movement connecting people, ideas and resources to support greener low-carbon living.
Based in Europe’s first circular economy demonstration centre, Rediscovery Centre acts as an innovation hub, delivering education, providing research and enabling policy, citizen engagement and collaboration to support community action. Recognising that a just transition requires a social movement, we use our skills and expertise to ensure that all people benefit from, and can participate in, the circular economy.
Our work is supported by key strategic partners and includes a range of education and research programmes, workshops and training courses across broad disciplines, including STEM, reuse, repair, resource efficiency and sustainability.
For more information about the Rediscovery Centre, please visit www.rediscoverycentre.ie
Contact:
Lizzy Gageby Bell
Communications & Marketing Lead, Rediscovery Centre
communications@rediscoverycentre.ie
01 893 3801
www.rediscoverycentre.ie
