Groups of Donegal students have taken everyday rubbish and recycled it into beautiful, colourful and psychedelic works of art.
The students creations were highlighted in true exuberant fashion last night at the annual Trash ‘N’ Fashion Grand Final in the Mount Errigal Hotel.
Materials including wooden pegs, origami papers, plastic bottles and coins were all painstakingly folded, weaved and coloured to create an incredibly diverse collection of clothing and accessories.
The fashion showcase on Thursday, May 19th brought together students from Loreto Letterkenny, Deele College, Errigal College, Royal and Prior and Carndonagh Community School to celebrate and compete with their hard work.
The programme which raises funds for Donegal Youth Services is organised by Karen Murphy from Karen Murphy Speech Drama and Communications and Evelyn Mc Glynn from Evelyn Mc Marketing.
Summer blooms were the stage theme, while costumes on the catwalk ranged from every imaginable scene. The Wild Atlantic Way show featured some lavish nature-inspired and Donegal-centric creations. The accessories round was a feast of diverse materials and headpieces worn with flair.
The young models and designers, most of Transition Year age, were full of confidence and pride as they paraded in front of the audience.
Presenters Maria Rushe (Donegal Woman’s Thoroughly Modern Mammy!) and Paul Logue interviewed each artist to hear the inspiration and production process behind their pieces before the winners were revealed:
The costume award went to Pause and Rewind, a glittering gothic ensemble by Narissa Farren from Carndonagh Community School. The jacket, skirt and corset piece was created using old tapes which were found lying at the back of a classroom. From these, Narissa generated a striking diva-like design.
Costume runner-up – Folded Fashion, an artistic paper structure by Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny.
Folded Fashion
Accessory winner was Blooming Bottles by Errigal College – a floral celebration reusing plastic bottles.
Blooming Bottles
Accessory Runner-up – Queen of Flowers, Carndonagh Community School
Wild Atlantic Way Winner – Scenic Fashionista – Deele College
Up Cycle Winner – Frida, Carndonagh Community School
Best Hair – Classic Curves, Carndonagh Community School
Best Make-up – Off the Walls, Royal and Prior
A special set from students of the LYIT BA Fashion with Promotion degree featured high-fashion creations by Donegal’s up-and-coming designers. Lecturer Sharon Maxwell introduced each design and highlighted the key elements that made the looks so innovative and unique. It was clear the students in this programme are the one’s to watch in the future fashion scene.
Music by DJ Atlantica and DJ Paddy Friel generated individual moods to suit each piece. Performances from Triumph Performing Arts to open the show and later the Rendition crew of Pinehill Dance Studios Letterkenny electrified the energy in the room as the judges deliberated the contestants.
The judging panel
The expert judging panel comprised of Textile Artist Karen O’Kane Kokodesigns, Liam Grier Design Studio, blogger Emma Murray The Fashion Chair, Alanah Mc Daid former participant and winner Carndonagh Community School studying Fashion Textiles in University of Ulster, Belfast, College of Art.
Want to see some extra innovative Trash N’ Fashion looks and entertainment?
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