Budding young fashion designers across County Galway are being invited to showcase their talents in a new initiative aimed at highlighting the benefits of upcycling, redesigning and repurposing pre-loved clothing.
Open to young people of secondary school age, the Relove Fashion Competition is operated through a partnership between the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, The Government of Ireland and the Rediscovery Centre, and is being supported by the Environment section of Galway County Council.
The competition challenges entrants to use their creative design skills to create a sustainable, wearable outfit from preloved clothing and textiles. The textiles can be unwanted items in their own wardrobe, donations from friends or family, items sourced at swap events or from charity shops.
Speaking at the launch of the competition, Lorraine Keane, Fashion Relief founder, entrepreneur and media presenter said, “I am thrilled to launch this exciting new step for the Relove Fashion Competition. I have been involved as a judge since the beginning and it is wonderful to see it grow from a regional competition to a national competition. This means that secondary school aged students throughout the Republic of Ireland can enter the competition. I am really looking forward to seeing the creativity and ingenuity of this year’s students.”
Councillor Albert Dolan, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway commented, “This novel initiative is a practical and effective response to the devastating environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry, the need for change, and the recognition of young people’s pivotal role in shaping innovative solutions.”
Uinsinn Finn, Deputy Chief Executive of Galway County Council added, “Galway County Council is delighted to support this important initiative which aligns with our ongoing efforts to educate and motivate people to consider material reuse as the first option in diverting unwanted materials from landfills.
The Director of Services Rural & Community Development, Integration and Environment, Ms. Jacqueline Carroll said, “Participants in the Relove Fashion Competition will get the opportunity to delve into the world of sustainable fashion, learning essential skills such as repurposing, upcycling, altering and repair. This unique competition offers teenagers the chance to showcase their creativity and passion for sustainable fashion by designing and creating their own sustainable outfits.”
To enter the competition, young people are challenged to explore their creative design skills to create a sustainable and re-wearable outfit using clothing from the treasure troves of charity shops, swap shops, or reused items already available at home. Applicant’s final submissions should include a finished outfit, before and after photos, a storyboard outlining the journey and the design process involved in the creation from start to finish, and a video of the outfit.
Visit www.relovefashion.ie for more information.
