Rules & Regulations
Rules of Entry Applicable to the Junk Kouture
2024 – 2025 Competition Cycle
The following rules are designed to ensure that Junk Kouture is conducted as fairly and as efficiently as possible and are subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of Junk Kouture. Infringement of any of the rules listed below may lead to exclusion, at any time for Creators, Educators, or Schools from present and / or future participation in Junk Kouture competitions. Please refer to this page for all rules and regulations associated with your Junk Kouture journey and prior to submitting your completed design.
Definitions used throughout this page
- Creators = Students participating in the competition
- Educators = Teachers / supervising adults who take responsibility for the students
- Territories = The country in which Junk Kouture currently operates in (Ireland / United Kingdom / United States / France / Italy / United Arab Emirates)
- Cities = Main hub in which successful designers will travel to at own cost for events etc. (Dublin / London / New York / Paris / Milan / Dubai)
- TM = Territory Managers
1. General rules
1.1 The Junk Kouture competition is organised by Junk Kouture Operations Ireland Ltd. by whose decision on all matters relating to the Competition is final.
1.2 Junk Kouture currently operates in six countries (Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, France, Italy, United Arab Emirates). For the 2024 – 2025 competition cycle, to participate and enter a design, a person must be a resident of any of the countries mentioned above only. For example, only schools located in Italy are eligible to enter the Milan competition. If you are part of a region within these countries, please contact your Territory Manager about entering.
1.3 To enter the competition, creators must be born between 2006 and 2013, meaning they will be between the ages of 12 and 19 by the 31st December 2025. Participants must be in a form of second-level Education. If you require further clarification, contact your Territory Manager.
1.4 A design team can have a maximum of three students. This includes the person who models the design. Teams of four or above are not permitted. Any design team that is found to have more than three people in their team they will be disqualified from the competition.
1.5 Submission dates will be provided to schools in advance via the competition handbook. Completed designs must be entered by the deadline date relevant to their competition territory as published by the competition organiser. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstance.
1.6 Design submissions and all associated documentation must be submitted via the Junk Kouture submission form. No submissions will be accepted into the competition outside of this form of entry i.e., emails to Territory Managers or messages through social media platforms.
1.7 All sections of the design submission form must be completed. If there is a section incomplete or if there are issues accessing information this may result in failure in successful submission into the competition.
1.8 Junk Kouture Operations Ireland Limited reserves the right to extend the competition submission window if it deems it a requirement.
1.9 Submission of a design does not automatically qualify a design team as a finalist for the City Final in their individual territory. In the initial stage of selection, a panel of screening judges will select the designs to go forward to each city event and the judges’ decisions are final. These finalists will be announced on Junk Kouture platforms (website and/or social media) and contact will be made with the registered Educators directly via email.
1.10 For Ireland, in the initial stage of selection, a panel of screening judges will select the designs to go forward to the Regional Finals. From this stage of the competition, the Dublin City Finalists are selected.
1.11 For all remaining territories (UK, UAE, USA, France, Italy) there will be one event in each location. The Regional Final stage does not apply to these territories.
- Dubai City Final
- London City Final
- Milan City Final
- New York City Final
- Paris City Final
1.12 From each City Final, ten designs from ten individual schools will be selected to represent their country at the 2025 Junk Kouture World Final. The World Final will consist of sixty world finalists who will compete for a range of awards. Please also note that the number of City Finalists may vary depending on location (this is subject to change as the competition progresses and at the discretion of Junk Kouture Operations Ireland Limited).
1.13 There is no fee at point of entry for the Creator, Educator or the School when entering a design into the competition.
1.14 If a design team is selected as a Regional / City Finalist, participation in this event will be at the cost to the creators and Educators. Junk Kouture does not contribute to any travel costs associated with these events.
1.15 If a design team is selected as a World Finalist, most major costs associated with this event will be covered, however, there will be some costs which Creators, Schools or Educators must cover, for example, travel to the departure airport.
1.16 Please visit the competition page relevant to your territory via the links provided below. Latest information relating to your competition will be accessible on these pages throughout the competition timeline.
1.17 Designs previously entered to Junk Kouture and have not progressed in the competition will not be accepted unless they have undergone further development and enhancement. If your design was not successful in a previous year, you are allowed and encouraged to further develop it for re-entry into the competition. Reference of this should be included at point of entry on the design description section.
1.18 Designs that have been entered in other competitions can be accepted as entries to the Junk Kouture Competition, provided that this information is stated in the application entry at time of submission. If there is third-party restriction from a previous competition’s terms and conditions the design will not be permitted as an entry. If you wish to declare additional information about this or have any queries in advance of submitting a design, please contact your Territory Manager in the first instance. Contact details will be available via the website.
1.19 If announced as a winner of a Junk Kouture Award category, you automatically consent to Junk Kouture having access to your design for 12 months from the date of the World Final. Junk Kouture will also contact the winning design teams should opportunities arise throughout the 12 months in which the design team or members of the design team can get involved in.
2. RESPONSIBILITY of the educator
2.1 Educators are required to sign up for the 2024 – 2025 competition via the sign-up form from Wednesday 9th October to Friday 25 October 2024 by 5pm (GMT). By signing up, Educators confirm that they will have students participating in the competition and commit to completing a design by the submission date stated, unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent this. Should this happen, the Educator commits to let their Territory manager know as soon as is practicably possible. The Educator also agrees to Junk Kouture’s T&Cs and confirms that they will provide formal documentation for working with young people when requested.
2.2 When submitting a design, an Educator is required to be associated with a design team and takes responsibility of all aspects of entry. Should a design team be selected as a City Finalist / World Finalist; the registered Educator will be required to attend the event with the team. Educators will be required to show/supply the relevant formal documentation to confirm Educator status in advance or upon arrival to the live event. Further information around the requirements will be supplied to Educators in advance of these events.
2.3 Junk Kouture will formally communicate with the Educators via email. Educators are responsible for completing and collecting any required information from the creators and school.
2.4 It is the responsibility of the Educator to communicate any information relating to the competition to their students. Junk Kouture communicates directly and formally with Educators only.
2.5 It is the responsibility of the Educator to communicate any changes relating to the design or team directly to Junk Kouture. This can be done by contacting your Territory Manager. Contact details will be available via the website.
2.6 Educators are responsible for their own and their students’ safety during all Junk Kouture activities and throughout the competition cycle. Junk Kouture is not liable for any injuries or incidents related to participation, techniques, suggested activities, or travel to events. If you need assistance with a risk assessment for a Junk Kouture event, please contact your territory manager.
3. CREATOR REGISTRATION
3.1 Creators are invited to join the Junk Kouture community at the time of design submission, via the Junk Kouture submission form. By submitting a design and signing up to the competition, creators agree to Junk Kouture’s T&Cs.
3.2 Design submission dates for the 2024 – 2025 competition are as per the below dates:
Dublin: Monday 13 January to Monday 27 January 2025
Dubai, Paris, Milan, London and New York: Monday 24 February – Monday 10 March 2025
3.3 To enter the competition, creators must be born between 2006 and 2013, meaning they will be between the ages of 12 and 19 by the 31st of December 2025. Participants must be in a form of second-level Education. If you require further clarification, contact your Territory Manager.
3.4 Participants must be in a form of second-level Education and must be residents of one of the eligible countries. If you require further clarification, contact your Territory Manager.
3.5 A design team can have a maximum of three students. This includes the person who models the design. Teams of four or above are not permitted. Any design team that is found to have more than three people in their team they will be disqualified from the competition.
3.6 It is a requirement for all team members to be from the same organisation (i.e., school, after school club).
3.7 All sections of the Junk Kouture submission form must be completed for your design to be successfully submitted and to be entered in the competition.
3.8 A creator can only enter one design (per year) into the competition, whether they are entering as an individual or as part of a team.
3.9. One member from each team will be responsible for submitting all the relevant information and details required for entering the competition when submission opens. Please refer to the Junk Kouture Handbook for guidance on this process.
3.10 A design made by a solo entrant may be submitted in the competition and once submitted cannot be re–classified as a team submission (i.e., no further team members can be added). The students who worked on the design must be included at time of submission.
3.11. It is expected that most of the work for a design will be conducted in school, home, or the outside environment (i.e., after-school club). Creators are allowed to seek guidance and advice when creating their entry, however the final design submitted must be created and completed only by the designers involved.
3.12. Your entry must be original and unaided work, and any images or design references used as inspiration should be included (on your mood board /indicated at the time of entry).
3.13. If Junk Kouture determines that a design does not comply with the competition rules and regulations at any stage in the competition process, including after selection has been made or awards assigned, it may disqualify the design team from the Junk Kouture competition.
3.14. Once a design is submitted, no visual changes or adaptations to the design are permitted. Only practical/structural changes regarding the movement or wearability of the design may be accepted for participation in the next stage of the competition.
3.15. A design is judged on what is provided at time of submission, so please make sure the design is fully complete, and all accompanying materials are appropriate i.e., design description, images, video.
3.16. Creators must refrain from making statements and claims in person or online that may bring Junk Kouture, the competition, its community, and relevant stakeholders, into disrepute. Failure to do so, will result in expulsion from the competition.
3.17. Junk Kouture will use a creator’s personal information only as set out in our Privacy Notice which can be found on our website http://www.junkkouture.com/privacy. If a creator wishes to access their personal data, delete, or update information, they can do so by contacting Junk Kouture [email protected] . This is the information that you supply to us at time of submission.
4. MATERIALS
4.1. All materials used by creators must be recycled or re-purposed or unfit for their intended original purpose. New materials are prohibited.
4.2 All materials used must be safe to wear and/or exhibit, and must not contain any pyro, toxic or dangerous materials. If a designer is unsure about the safety of their materials, they should consult their educator, who can then reach out to the territory manager for support.
4.3. Designers are prohibited from using any alcohol, tobacco, vape or drugs branding or packaging unless these are being used to promote the harmful effects of misuse. Creators should clearly highlight the messaging in the description section of the submission application.
4.4. Models must wear appropriate footwear and undergarments when modelling their design for the competition submission and showcasing a design at any Junk Kouture event.
4.5. All designs must be safe for a model to wear and perform in. Models must be able to see clearly and breathe easily while wearing the garment onstage and be able to perform comfortably in it.
4.6. Props or accessories such as stilts, roller blades, any hard materials with raw, unprotected edges (e.g., glass, ceramics, plastic, metal), flammables, or lighters are not acceptable materials for use in your design or on stage.
4.7. Designs must be transportable, and it is the responsibility of the designer to ensure their design can be safely and securely transported to/from Junk Kouture events. This includes considering factors such as packaging, weight, durability, and size. If selected for events, designs must be ready for travel. Any transportation issues are the sole responsibility of the designer.
4.8. Perishable and natural materials that may disintegrate or rot, including animal products, plant products, and food are not to be used, unless properly treated.
5. JUDGING PROCESS
5.1 Finalist designs are selected, and award-winners are chosen, through multiple rounds of closed judging followed by live event judging. Closed judging means that the judges are aware of the design name, the inspiration behind the design, and the designer details.
Live event judging means that the judging panel make decisions based on what is visible on the event day and meeting the creators in person.
5.2. Following on from the closed judging process, Regional and City finalists are announced via Junk Kouture social media platforms. After this, each finalist’s work is showcased at the event – in which all elements of a design i.e. full hair, make-up, and any finishing touches are accessed by the judging panel, in advance of determining who will be announced as a World Finalist.
5.3. The judges are solely responsible for the selection of finalists and winners. Their decisions are final.
5.4. The judges reserve the right to withhold awards and exclude designs if designers have not adhered to the rules and regulations of the Junk Kouture competition.
What do the Judges look for?
5.5 Each year the Junk Kouture judging panel is looking for designs that will surprise them, demonstrating interesting techniques, and telling a story
through the recycled design is a must. Innovative thinking is beneficial when exploring ideas / concepts and the uniqueness of materials used.
5.6. The completed design must meet the brief of the competition i.e. video created, SDG section complete, photos uploaded (please refer to the handbook for the full brief). A design that has not completed each section of the submission form fully will not be included in the judging process.
5.7. A high standard of craftsmanship is essential when submitting a design for the competition. Keep in mind that the initial judging is based on the images and videos you submit. Your design should look just as impressive up close (in person) as it does from a distance or in your submission form. Additionally, your design may need to be worn multiple times, so it’s crucial to ensure ease of movement, durability during wear, and resilience when being transported or used repeatedly.
6. WORLD FINAL
6.1. Ten designs from different schools at each City Final – Dublin, London, Paris, Milan, Dubai and New York, will be selected to represent their country at the Junk Kouture World Final. A total of sixty designs will battle it out for the World Designer of the Year title and an array of other awards. If announced as a World Finalist, important information will be supplied to the Educator by the Territory Manager.
6.2. If announced as a World Finalist, it is important to note that while some costs will be covered by Junk Kouture (accommodation and travel from a specific airport / station), there will be other costs that will need to be covered by the finalists (i.e. travel to the specific airport / station).
6.3. It is the responsibility of the finalists to ensure that the following are in place prior to participating in the World Final:
Passport is in date and has more than 6 months left (check requirements based on origin / destination)
Visa approved (application should be done directly by the finalist / school)
Travel insurance secured (Each school has its own travel and trip procedures. Educators are responsible for providing relevant information and requirements to creators and their families before the Final)
6.4. There will be a Designer of the Year Award for each territory – Dublin, London, Paris, Milan, Dubai and New York and from these six, the overall World Designer of the Year will be won.
6.5. Other awards available to win include Junior Designer, STEAM, SDG, Purposeful Plastic, Innovation, Performance, Cultural Couture, Wearable Art, Dare to Wear and Glamour.
*Please note that the above awards may be subject to change at the discretion of Junk Kouture.
6.6. Any prizes associated with the awards mentioned, will be provided to the winning teams within a reasonable time frame. The winning team will be required to complete a form which will indicate where any prize should be shipped to.
6.7. Creators can win the title of Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year on more than one occasion. Previous winners of the title are eligible to re–enter the competition in subsequent years if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
7. Photographs / Videos
7.1. By entering the Junk Kouture competition via the submission form, you grant Junk Kouture permission to use design images for up to five years post competition entered. Junk Kouture retains the right to use any design photographs during the submission process in accordance with our privacy. If you wish to opt out of this or have your image removed after seeing it used, please contact us immediately via email [email protected]
7.2. Junk Kouture and its partners reserves the right to use images/videos from any Junk Kouture event or content submitted for promotional and marketing purposes, both online and in print, in accordance with its’ privacy notice. Junk Kouture is under no obligation to make use of any or all photos and / or videos taken at the events.
7.3. Junk Kouture retains the right to publish information regarding all designs entered in the Junk Kouture competition in accordance with our privacy policy.
8. Intellectual Property
8.1. Design content and materials provided to Junk Kouture at the time of submission remains the property of the designers but will be used where deemed appropriate for competition purposes. Designs must also be made available for Junk Kouture for publication or exhibition purposes for up to 12 months post competition.
8.2 Design content and materials must be made available for use to Junk Kouture partners and sponsors, when required for up to 12 months post competition. In these cases, design teams will be issued no fewer than 14 days’ notice prior to an event. All Junk Kouture partners must hold relevant insurances for use of designs.
9. Sustainability approach
9.1. Junk Kouture is dedicated to fostering the circular engineers of tomorrow through sustainable designs and driving behavioural change towards sustainability. Appointed as an SDG Champion by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications in Ireland, Junk Kouture proudly contributes to six of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By participating in the programme, students are equipped with essential green skills such as problem-solving, innovative thinking, and collaboration. These skills are crucial for tackling the climate crisis and preparing participants to become the future leaders in sustainability across varies industries. The competition challenges students to create wearable fashion from recycled materials, promoting upcycling and reducing waste, and thus fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to sustainable practices.
9.2. By participating in the 2024-2025 Junk Kouture competition, design teams are required to responsibly discard or repurpose their designs after the competition. While winning designs may be requested for display for up to 12 months post-competition, all participants must take one of the following actions:
Donate to Junk Kouture: If you wish to donate your design for future events, please contact your Territory Manager.
Display Locally: Display your designs to your school or a local organization.
Recycle Responsibly: Ensure your design is disposed of responsibly by donating it to a local recycling centre or properly sorting materials into the appropriate waste bins.
Upcycle Your Design: Repurpose parts of your design for future Junk Kouture competitions. Coming back with an even more impressive couture design!
Keep as a Souvenir: Retain your design as a keepsake or display it at home as a reminder of your creative journey.
Note: We will follow up later in the cycle to confirm which option you choose.
10. Partners / Sponsors
10.1. Participants may be subject to promotional activity from partners / sponsors. This activity must be approved by Junk Kouture beforehand, with designers and Educators being informed of this prior.
10.2 Participants will not be subject to any unlawful promotions, or indeed, be required to partake in promotional activity deemed unsuitable by Junk Kouture. These cases will be examined on a case-by-case basis by Junk Kouture.
11. Junk Kouture Values
11.1. Junk Kouture expects all relevant stakeholders to respect the values and standards of Junk Kouture, as listed in the Junk Kouture Values.
11.2. Junk Kouture respects the right to privacy. Full details are included in the Junk Kouture Privacy Policy.