Latest News
Announcements, city finals, partnerships and the stories behind the designs.
A NEW ERA OF JUNK KOUTURE: ONE GLOBAL COMMUNITY
Junk Kouture is entering an exciting new chapter, with a new global model, a brand-new digital experience and a bigger ambition for young creatives around the world. For 2026–27, Junk Kouture is going global. For the first time, eligible schools and young creatives from countries around the world will have the opportunity to become part of the Junk Kouture journey - creating one growing global community connected by creativity. Ireland, the United Kingdom and Italy will remain Junk Kouture’s three Operating Markets, each with a dedicated pathway through the competition. A NEW DIGITAL HOME FOR JK Alongside our new global model, we’ve rebuilt the Junk Kouture website and digital platform from the ground up - and it’s now live. The new platform will become the digital home of the JK community, bringing educators, students, parents, alumni, supporters and fans together in one place. And everyone starts their new journey in the same way - by becoming a Fan. Creating a Fan account allows you to explore the new platform, follow the journey and be among the first to hear the latest Junk Kouture news, updates and opportunities throughout the year. The platform is currently in beta, so you may notice a few changes as we test and improve the experience. We’d love your feedback along the way through our Morph chat box. Register Today: https://junkkouture.com/auth?mode=register WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? On 14 September, Educator Registration opens, allowing educators to verify their accounts and officially register their school for Junk Kouture 2026–27. Once an educator has been verified by Junk Kouture, eligible students connected to their school will be able to move from Fan to Creator and begin their competition journey. Once registered, Educators and Creators will gain exclusive access to everything they need to get started with Junk Kouture, including key programme information, timelines, checklists, Lesson Plans, classroom resources, and more. At the same time, our new Rest of the World pathway will open Junk Kouture to eligible schools and young creatives across the globe. Our existing Junk Kouture communities in France, the USA and the UAE remain an important part of JK and will now join the Rest of the World pathway alongside schools and young creatives from other countries. Students will still have the opportunity to represent their school and country, with selected designs progressing through the competition and ultimately competing for the opportunity to reach the Junk Kouture World Final.
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Junk Kouture heads to Volcano Summit 2026
Three Junk Kouture designers are heading to Antigua, Guatemala this September to represent the global creative community at Volcano Summit 2026: Echoes of Expansion. Taking place from 5–7 September, the seventh edition of Volcano Summit will bring together leaders, innovators and changemakers from around the world to explore ideas across purpose, community, innovation, impact and transformation. Representing Junk Kouture will be Joseph Monaghan from Ireland, alongside Haseena Atariwa and Isis Madeira from the USA, bringing young creative voices and their Junk Kouture experiences to an international platform. Junk Kouture Founder & CEO Troy Armour will also take to the stage during the Summit to deliver a keynote, sharing the Junk Kouture journey and its mission to empower young people through creativity, circular thinking and real-world experiences. Follow Junk Kouture on social media next week for designer vlogs and behind-the-scenes updates from Antigua.
Vision Ireland Returns to Electric Picnic 2026 with New Main Arena Location and ReMade Auction
Vision Ireland Retail is returning to Electric Picnic 2026 with a new location in the Main Arena, bringing its premium pre-loved fashion offering closer to the heart of the festival. This year, festival-goers will find the Vision Ireland Retail pop-up at the entrance to the Main Arena, marking an exciting move for the charity retailer’s growing presence on the Irish festival circuit. The pop-up will feature a curated edit of pre-loved festival fashion, including vintage pieces, shell and bomber jackets, knits, fleeces and one-off finds, giving festival-goers the opportunity to shop sustainably throughout the weekend. The move into the Main Arena builds on Vision Ireland Retail’s ambition to make pre-loved fashion more visible, accessible and aspirational, bringing circular retail directly into one of Ireland’s biggest cultural events. A major highlight of this year’s Electric Picnic activation will be the reveal of the ReMade collection by Claire Cruz, winner of ReMade: A Circular Design Challenge by Vision Ireland x Junk Kouture. Claire was selected as the winner following the creation of her original design, Courtside Couture, which demonstrated her creativity, craftsmanship and approach to transforming pre-loved materials into contemporary fashion. Following her win, Claire entered the next stage of the challenge: creating a three-look sustainable collection using donated and recycled materials sourced through Vision Ireland Retail. The completed collection will be unveiled and showcased at Electric Picnic before each of the three complete looks is made available through a dedicated online auction, raising vital funds for Vision Ireland services. The ReMade auction will go live on Tuesday, 25 August at 9:00am and remain open until Tuesday, 1 September at 8:00pm. Each look will be listed as a complete outfit through the Vision Ireland eBay store, with the auction promoted online across Vision Ireland’s social channels and directly to festival-goers at the Electric Picnic pop-up. ReMade was created to spotlight the next generation of Irish design talent while challenging perceptions of pre-loved fashion and demonstrating the creative possibilities of materials already in circulation. A spokesperson for Vision Ireland Retail said: “Electric Picnic has become an important platform for us to show just how exciting, relevant and creative pre-loved fashion can be. Moving into the Main Arena this year is a really positive step for us and gives even more festival-goers the opportunity to discover Vision Ireland Retail and shop pre-loved across the weekend. “ReMade takes that message even further. Claire’s collection demonstrates what can happen when talented young designers are given the opportunity to reimagine donated materials. We’re incredibly excited to reveal the finished looks at Electric Picnic and then give people the opportunity to own a one-of-one look from the collection while supporting Vision Ireland services.” The Electric Picnic activation forms part of Vision Ireland Retail’s wider work to encourage reuse, extend the life of donated goods and position pre-loved fashion as a first-choice option for consumers. Festival-goers can follow Vision Ireland Retail across social media throughout the weekend for pop-up updates, collection reveals and direct links to the ReMade auction. ENDS For media enquiries, please contact: brenda.kelly@vi.ie
Claire Cruz Announced as Winner of ReMade Circular Design Challenge by Vision Ireland x Junk Kouture
Vision Ireland Retail and Junk Kouture are proud to announce Claire Cruz as the winner of ReMade: A Circular Design Challenge, recognising her outstanding creativity, craftsmanship and innovative use of pre-loved materials. Claire’s winning design, Courtside Couture, stood out among a highly competitive group of emerging designers, showcasing the power of circular fashion to transform discarded materials into bold, future-facing design. Following her win, Claire now enters the next phase of the campaign, the design and development of a three-look sustainable collection, which will be created entirely using donated and recycled materials sourced through Vision Ireland Retail. The collection will be unveiled at Electric Picnic 2026, where it will be showcased live across the festival weekend, before being auctioned to raise vital funds for Vision Ireland services. ReMade was created to spotlight the next generation of designers while challenging perceptions of pre-loved fashion. By connecting emerging talent with real-world materials and platforms, the initiative demonstrates how creativity and sustainability can work hand in hand to shape the future of fashion. A spokesperson for Vision Ireland Retail added: “ReMade is about more than design, it’s about reimagining what fashion can be. Claire’s work embodies everything this challenge stands for, and we’re excited to see her bring this collection to life using materials that already exist within our circular ecosystem.” The campaign will continue to follow Claire’s journey in the lead-up to Electric Picnic, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, material sourcing and design development.
Junk Kouture and DHL Express Ireland Launch Full Circle Fashion: Delivered with SoRoe Design
Junk Kouture and DHL Express Ireland Launch Full Circle Fashion: Delivered with SoRoe Design New initiative celebrates Irish design, Junk Kouture alumni success and the power of partnership in supporting creative careers beyond the competition stage. Dublin, Ireland – 17 July 2026 Junk Kouture and DHL Express Ireland have today announced the launch of Full Circle Fashion: Delivered, a new initiative celebrating Irish fashion, creativity and the lasting impact of supporting young designers beyond the competition stage. Developed in partnership with Roisin Heffernan, founder of SoRoe Design and a proud Junk Kouture alumna, the campaign reflects the next evolution of DHL's partnership with Junk Kouture and demonstrates a shared commitment to nurturing creative talent, championing circular thinking and investing in the future of Irish design. As one of Junk Kouture's standout alumni success stories, Roisin represents the creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that the programme continues to nurture long after participants leave the competition. Having first discovered her passion for fashion through Junk Kouture, she returned in 2026 as a judge, bringing her industry experience back to the stage to inspire and mentor the next generation of young designers. Earlier this year, DHL Express Ireland celebrated the next generation of fashion talent by sponsoring the Junior Designer of the Year Award at the Junk Kouture World Final. Through Full Circle Fashion: Delivered, that commitment continues beyond the stage by supporting an established member of the Junk Kouture community as she continues to grow her fashion business. The campaign will follow Roisin throughout the second half of 2026, documenting the day-to-day realities of running an independent fashion brand while highlighting the role collaboration, logistics and industry partnerships play in helping creative businesses grow. A Full Circle Journey Few people represent the Junk Kouture community quite like Roisin Heffernan. Having first stepped onto the Junk Kouture stage as a student designer back in 2017 with her team’s design ‘Kamuro’, she has since established SoRoe Design as an independent fashion brand recognised for its commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability. Earlier this year, Roisin returned to Junk Kouture in a new role, as a judge, helping to inspire and mentor the next generation of young designers. Now, through Full Circle Fashion: Delivered, she begins another chapter as the face of a campaign that celebrates not only her own journey, but the lasting impact of the Junk Kouture community. Roisin Heffernan, Founder of SoRoe Design, said: "Junk Kouture gave me the confidence to believe that a career in fashion was possible, and so much of my journey started there. Returning as a judge this year was already a really special moment, but to now work alongside Junk Kouture and DHL through Full Circle Fashion: Delivered feels incredibly meaningful. It's a celebration of how far I've come, but also a reminder of the importance of continuing to support young creatives as they grow their careers." Investing in Creative Futures For DHL Express Ireland, the initiative reflects a continued commitment to supporting the fashion industry through meaningful partnerships that celebrate creativity, sustainability and innovation. Ciara Hynes, Brand, Marketing and Communications Manager, DHL Express Ireland, said: "Fashion is about creativity, innovation and constantly looking to the future. Through our partnership with Junk Kouture, we've had the opportunity to celebrate young designers at the very beginning of their journey. Full Circle Fashion: Delivered allows us to continue that support by partnering with one of Junk Kouture's alumni success stories and demonstrating how practical support and industry collaboration can help creative businesses thrive. We're delighted to work with Roisin and Junk Kouture on this exciting initiative." Celebrating the Lasting Impact of Junk Kouture For Junk Kouture, the campaign demonstrates the long-term impact of supporting young creative talent. Megan Kelly, Director of Global Events and Production, Junk Kouture, said: "One of the most rewarding parts of Junk Kouture is seeing where our alumni go next. Roisin is a fantastic example of a young designer who has transformed creativity into a career. Full Circle Fashion: Delivered reflects exactly what we hope to achieve through Junk Kouture, not only inspiring young people in the classroom but supporting pathways into the creative industries and celebrating success stories along the way." Over the coming months, audiences will follow Roisin's journey through a series of behind-the-scenes stories showcasing the realities of building an Irish fashion brand, from studio life and collection preparation to major industry moments including Ireland Fashion Week. At its heart, Full Circle Fashion: Delivered celebrates Irish design, the strength of the Junk Kouture alumni community and the power of long-term partnerships in helping creative talent flourish.
12 World Finalists revealed at Junk Kouture Dublin City Final 2026
The Junk Kouture Dublin City Final 2026 delivered a spectacular evening of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation, as outstanding student designs from all over Ireland took to t…
Junk Kouture x DHL Express Ireland: Behind the Scenes in Dublin
Junk Kouture recently partnered with DHL Express Ireland to deliver an exclusive behind-the-scenes warehouse experience for our Dublin City Finalists. Students were given rare acce…
Junk Kouture World Final returns to Dublin
Global sustainable fashion showcase for young people brings creativity, circularity and innovation to The Helix, Tuesday 24 th February With support from headline sponsor EUROSPAR…
Sweet 16: Junk Kouture celebrates 16 years in Ireland As EUROSPAR returns as headline sponsor of Junk Kouture
Sweet 16: Junk Kouture celebrates 16 years in Ireland As EUROSPAR returns as headline sponsor of Junk Kouture EUROSPAR Supermarkets to support 10 Irish Junk Kouture teams at Junk K…
Sustainable style showcased by young NI designers
Sustainable style showcased by young NI designers Translink and Junk Kouture combine to create eco fashion hub Belfast Grand Central Station was transformed into a vibrant hub of c…
From Classrooms to World Stages to the UN: Junk Kouture Launches Global Impact Report in New York, Founder Honoured at United Nations
New York, 29 September 2025 What if yesterday’s waste could become tomorrow’s runway masterpiece? For more than 100,000 young people across 74 countries, Junk Kouture is proving th…
Translink and Junk Kouture Launch New Initiative to Inspire Sustainable Thinking
16th September 2025 Translink and Junk Kouture Launch New Initiative to Inspire Sustainable Thinking “A Journey to Sustainable Style” encourages upcycling among young fashion enthu…