Junk Kouture, a youth creative expression platform offering a fashion design competition that combines youth creativity with environmental sustainability, will host its inaugural world final.
60 talented young design teams from around the world, qualified through Junk Kouture’s regional competitions, will travel to the iconic Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on 11 January 2023 for the World Finals.
At the event, three expert judges – Fabio Piras (Fashion Director, Central Saint Martins, London), Lise Pierron (French fashion model and influencer) and Mehreen Baig (British broadcaster and author) – will select , six regional winners in the US, Ireland, France, Italy and the UAE.
One of these six will then be chosen for the World Sustainable Designer of the Year. Etihad Airways, Official Airline Partner and Global Partner of Junk Kouture, will sponsor the awards.
Nine other awards will also be announced on the evening, including the Glamor Award, the Plastics with Purpose Award and the Innovation Award (sponsored by Deloitte – a key partner in the Junk Kouture masterclass resource and other youth sustainability initiatives).
Materials that entrants used in this year’s designs included everything from trampolines to plastic hygiene wrap, mannequin busts, ATM receipts and real moss.
Maz Hakim, writer and presenter of Virgin Radio, the number one radio station in the Middle East, will host the highly anticipated World Finals.
Highlights from the World Finals will be available on Junk Kouture’s YouTube channel. Etihad Airways will also feature the program on its inflight entertainment programme.
In addition to the competition, the final will feature exciting live performances from local artists from the region.
Open to high school students worldwide – Junk Kouture has recruited 100,000 teens to date and saved 40,000kg of waste from landfill. As well as encouraging fashion creativity, it also helps teens broaden their awareness of sustainability. Enrollment for 2023 is now open for high school students in the UAE, UK, Ireland, France, Italy and the US.
“We are thrilled to host our first-ever World Finals and look forward to meeting all 60 finalist design teams in person in January,” explained Troy Armour, Founder and CEO of Junk Kouture.
“This year’s entries featured some truly groundbreaking designs – from dresses made entirely of wire to ones made of banana fiber – which just goes to show how imaginative young people can be,” he said. added.
“Junk Kouture’s aim has always been to spread the idea of sustainability through creativity to as wide an audience as possible, while also creating a competitive outlet for creative kids, like a sport. By hosting our global final Coming to celebrate youth, creativity and sustainability voices from around the world, this is without a doubt our biggest statement yet,” concludes Armor.-TradeArabia News Service