A CREATIVE fashion competition with a £22,000 prize is set to return to Scotland next year.
Junk Kouture is challenging students between the ages of 12-18 years old a chance to take to create clothing from everyday junk.
The competition aims to get young people to use their voices to highlight the issue of climate change.
Aspiring artists, designers, and engineers are challenged to envision, design, create and model wearable haute couture styled from rubbish that is 100% recyclable.
Maxim O’Sullivan won in 2019 with his design ‘Cinematic’ which was inspired by his family-owned cinema, ‘The Phoenix’ in Co. Kerry, Ireland.
He used old film materials which were crocheted, quilled, sewn and loom-knitted together to tell the story of the cinema.
Maxim said: “I was always really into art and design but never had an opportunity to really showcase it. When I discovered Junk Kouture it was a surreal moment, I finally felt like I had found my thing.
“When I was selected for the Grand Final, I was so excited to appear on the same stage as so many stars.”
Maxim also won a scholarship to the Limerick School of Art and Design and will go on to study fashion design.
Maxim added: “I was nervous, but when I was out on stage it was magical with the lights, music and crowd cheering me on.
“It was the perfect end to an incredible experience, and I was very emotional when I was announced as the winner.
“Junk Kouture gave me my personality and I think everyone should have something in their lives that drives you all the way and brings you to life.”
The 2021 competition will take place in January in an online capacity.
Students can enter as an individual or as a team.
Finalists from the UK, Ireland, Italy, France, the UAE, and the USA will then compete in the Global Digital Final in June 2021.
There will be a national champion from each territory while one designer will be crowned overall ‘Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year’ earning a scholarship.
