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Pictured is Katie Brill from Coosan.
An Athlone woman recounts a life-changing experience helping to promote the Junk Kouture program in Abu Dhabi.
Katie Brill from Coosan is currently Senior Vice President PR and Communications for Junk Kouture, responsible for launching successful programs in Abu Dhabi.
Katie (26) manages a PR agency for six grunge fashion markets in Ireland, UK, US, Italy, France and the UAE.
Open to young people aged 13-18, Junk Kouture challenges young people to design, upcycle and create high-end fashion from recycled waste before presenting their designs on stage.
Katie moved to the Middle East in September 2021 to help launch the program there and integrate Junk Kouture into the school curriculum.
Her role there also involved relationship management and event planning.
Katie is responsible for developing new partnerships with the UAE and educating the public and media about Junk Kouture’s expansion into the Middle East.
“It can be busy, but I love the professional experience I’ve gained,” she told Westmeath Independent.
“Moving to the UAE to launch the Junk Kouture program was a life-changing experience.
As the general public in Abu Dhabi was completely unfamiliar with what Junk Kouture offered to schools and young people, “we really had to start from scratch, reaching out to schools, gaining their trust and gaining the support of the entire market entity”.
“I know it won’t be easy, but I’m excited about the challenges and adventures away from home.”
Katie continued: “I was fortunate that my boss, Jane Smith, had lived and worked in Abu Dhabi for many years, so she was able to make the right introductions and opened the door for discussions with ministries and partners.”
She said the reaction to the show in Abu Dhabi had been “surreal” and revealed she had become emotional the day before the Junk Kouture finale.
“It reminded me why I was in (Junk Kouture) and what it does for young people.”
Katie herself was the overall winner of the 2012 Junk Kouture, Re’Juicing is Ap’Peeling’, a design made from orange peel. She found that the experience helped her build her confidence and passion for environmental sustainability.
“I participated and had the most incredible experience. I was a very creative person growing up.”
Katie, who took part in the program during her transition year at Our Lady’s Bower, says her teacher Oonagh Kelly really nurtured her creativity and Junk Kouture took it to another level. She is now working on expanding the sustainable fashion competition’s mission and inspiring more young creatives.
Katie has had many highlights in her work with the organization, including her appearance on Fox 10 local news in Arizona last year. Junk Kouture participated in the Footprint Sustainability Summit in Phoenix, Arizona, as the organization was honored with the Ocean Heroes Award, which recognizes innovators who are creating a healthier planet and positively impacting the environment around the world .
Katie said: “We traveled to the US with 12 pieces of Irish design from our alumni community, had a fashion show at the awards ceremony, and were featured at the NBA halftime show. Following these events, FOX10 News accepted interview, this is a surreal time for us as we expand our presence in American schools. It’s so exciting to bring Irish design to the States to showcase the great talent of Junk Kouture, and then Phoenix’s The Fox 10 viewers and everyone at the summit saw it.”
The Athlone native first started working with Junk Kouture in October 2019 and says she would never have entered the PR world without Junk Kouture. Interestingly, Katie moved from a background in nutrition to a career in PR. “I took a sabbatical year (after my diploma) and did a Dietetics Plc at Whitehall (Further Education Institute).”
Katie remains involved with the organization by remaining in touch with CEO Troy Armor and the Junk Kouture community. She regularly wears her Junk Kouture designs to events and was a judge for the Scottish competition after completing an undergraduate degree in nutrition at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
The CEO asks Katie to join Junk Kouture for a PR role, she says she doesn’t know what PR is and her first instinct is to google it. “I’ve had conversations with companies about how I’m going to learn, I’ve learned on the job and it’s a great way to learn.
“I fell into the deep end, but I’ve been able to develop my relationships.” Katie also holds a diploma in PR and Marketing Communications from UCD, which she says has given her the confidence to learn along the way.
“Working with Junk Kouture has been an amazing experience for me.”
She believes that Junk Kouture helps empower young people and provides them with a stage to showcase their designs and express themselves creatively. “It’s a great way to get into a creative space after getting your diploma.”
The former Our Lady’s Bower student also serves as the face of Junk Kouture alongside the CEO, and says she loves speaking on the world stage.
Katie is the daughter of Athlonians Joe and Aisling Brill.
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