Megan enjoysbloomingcatwalk success

Flamboyant blooms were the inspiration for New-Bridge pupil Megan Johnson’s entry in the Junk Kouture ‘Recycled Fashion Competition’ 2014.

Megan’s design, entitled ‘HydrengiaMania’, has so far made it to the semi-finals of the national competition which challenges teenagers to create high-end wearable fashion from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin.

Open to second level students throughout Ireland, Megan’s entry is one of just 80 selected to represent the North. “The competition was announced in September and our art teacher mentioned that a girl from our school had entered last year, so I thought I would quite like to enter it this year,” said Megan.

“I’ve been working on it for five months now and it’s been quite time-consuming.”

Megan who would like to become a fashion designer, loved the whole recycling element of the competition as it added a quirky feel to the creations.

“When I was looking for inspiration I went out to a garden centre and took lots of photos of the flowers there,” said Megan. “The ones I loved most were the hydrangeas, so I decided to use these big, massive bunches to represent the idea of beauty and decay.

“The colours in the dried, faded flower-heads were beautiful dark purples and greens and it was nice as they sort of incorporated our school colours too.”

Talking of the trash used in the dress, Megan said: “I gathered dried hydrangeas, recycled newspaper, florists wire that florists had finished with, tissue paper and industrial wire”.

Proud mum Bridie has been working hard supporting Megan as she gathers all sorts of recycled bits and pieces. Bridie said: “the whole house has been taken over and turned upside down.”

Whilst Megan has done most of the work for the project, her two friends Sara Johnson and Clarissa Moore have formed part of the team.

Head of the Art department, Mrs Eimear McKeown is also excited about Megan’s success: “these are really great children who have been working so hard on this project by themselves”.

Megan’s ‘HydrengiaMania’ will appear on the catwalk at the semi-finals on Friday March 7 at Millennium Forum, Londonderry, where she must choreograph a performance to showcase the outfit.

She will have 90 seconds to impress the judges and if successful, the 20 highest scoring outfits will progress to the grand final.

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