Holy Trinity lands top awards at fashion show

The pupils were among 80 entries from across Ireland who took to the catwalk in their hand-made creations.

Holy Trinity College students won first and second prize in the Ulster Regional Final and runner-up in the All-Ireland Junk Kouture competition.

Six local designs were among the 20 selected from Ulster to go through to the National All Ireland Final in Dublin including

Warrior Knight, designed and modelled by Jose Varandas, won the Ulster regional final and came runner-up in the All-Ireland Junk Kouture Final. Jose used more than 1,000 recycled coke cans to create this striking design. Catwalk Dancer designed by Simona Kiliotaityte and modelled by Isabel Sladecekova came runner up in the Ulster regional final.

Following last year’s successful event, which saw over 100 student entries, coordinator of Junk Kouture Elizabeth O’Donnell praised Holy Triniry College students and staff for their efforts.

“It’s such a great achievement for one school to have such a high finalist response and a huge credit to all involved – both the students who have put in so much effort and hard work to each this stage, as well as their very supportive teachers,” she said.

“Both art teachers at Holy Trinity, Eimear and Eilish have created a great environment for students, really encouraging them to be as creative as possible – and it shows!”

Eimear Lavery, Head of Art and Design at the college, said: “This is the third year our school has entered the competition and it was incredible to have six out of 20 Northern qualifiers come from one school and then to win Ulster and be two out of the three Ulster finalists.”

Junk Kouture aims to educate students about waste and the value of reusing old junk while also encouraging them to create high fashion. The competition, which is in its second year, challenges second level students to rework trash and other recycled materials in to remarkable high-end couture fashion. Fashion designer Peter O’Brien, Fashion stylist Angela Scanlon, Fashion designer Zoe Bloomer and ERP Head of communications Yvonne Holmes judged on the night and said they were blown away by the standard and variety on show.

Holy Trinity winners were: Warrior Knight – By Jose Varandas; Catwalk Dancer – Simona Kiliotaityte; Dale Farm Lady – Catherine Lagan; Jean Queen – Jose Varandas; The Fields of Green Bottle Tops – Katrina Cvetkova; Wired Up – Grainne McElhatton, Katherine McGuigan and Sarah Louise McCormick.