ATU and Junk Kouture Celebrate Successful Partnership in Inspiring Sustainable Fashion Innovations

Over the past academic year, ATU's Marketing & Student Recruitment team worked closely with Junk Kouture to develop a strong and meaningful alliance between the university and the competition, inspiring young creative minds in Ireland and beyond.

Students, lecturers, and marketing staff from across ATU attended the event, further showcasing the university's commitment to design and creative excellence.

Junk Kouture, founded 12 years ago as a small independent fashion competition for local secondary schools in the northwest of Ireland by Buncrana-based entrepreneurs Troy Armour and Elizabeth O’Donnell, has benefitted greatly from the strong relationship between ATU and Junk Kouture. Megan Kelly, an ATU graduate and Director of Global Events and Production at Junk Kouture, has been instrumental in fostering these exciting partnerships.

After the event Ms Kelly commented, "Junk Kouture has been delighted to partner with ATU on a number of projects over the last academic year. The design of the Junk Kouture awards for the first-ever Junk Kouture World Final in Abu Dhabi was an incredibly special link between Junk Kouture and ATU. It was great to see creative designs from the university students come to life and be presented at the event. We are delighted to have had an ATU presence at the Dublin City Final 2023 Powered by RTÉ and look forward to many more positive partnerships in the future."

ATU's Marketing & Student Recruitment team worked closely with Junk Kouture to foster a deep collaboration, offering schools and students a creative platform to actively engage in climate change initiatives. Many ATU graduates now work and lead the Junk Kouture organisation, a testament to the fruitful partnership between the two institutions.

Fiona Kelly, Market Engagement Marketing Manager at ATU, said, "Over the years, ATU has developed a strong partnership with Junk Kouture, and we are proud of the numerous graduates who work, lead, and drive the Junk Kouture vision and mission. Through collaborative projects, such as the recycling of promotional marketing materials for participating post-primary schools, ATU has played an active role in supporting Junk Kouture 2023."

The recent highlight of the partnership was the creative design of the awards presented at the Junk Kouture World Finals in Abu Dhabi by ATU Donegal fashion students. This collaboration provided ATU students with an opportunity to share their values and objectives, promoting innovative design for a more sustainable future. Sixteen trophies were designed for categories including World Designer, Purposeful Plastic, Best Performance, Wearable Art, Dre to Wear, Best Make-up, Innovation, Cultural Couture, Glamour, and Junior Designer. Additionally, six trophies represented the six cities: Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Dublin, New York, and Milan.