There is tremendous excitement in Presentation Secondary Listowel as students Molly, Clodagh and Erin prepare to represent our school at the Junk Kouture Regional Finals 2026. The girls will take to the stage on March 9th in The Helix, where creativity, sustainability and storytelling will combine in spectacular fashion.
Their design, Live Re:mAID, is far more than a dress — it is a powerful tribute to the iconic Live Aid concert of 1985. Drawing inspiration from the bold spirit of 80s rock, the piece reimagines the humanitarian message of Live Aid through sustainable fashion. The original concert united the world through music to provide urgent support to the people of Ethiopia during a devastating famine. Live Re:mAID reminds us that creativity can still be a force for compassion and global awareness today.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the piece, Molly explained, “We didn’t just want to make something that looked like the 80s — we wanted to capture the feeling of unity and hope that Live Aid created. It was about using fashion to tell a story.”
The mermaid-style silhouette is constructed from a handmade denim dress onto which 1,500 hand-sewn guitar plectrums have been individually stitched. Each plectrum symbolises the power of music — small on its own, but transformative when brought together. The dress flows dramatically with 2.5 kilometres of reclaimed VHS and cassette tape woven throughout, creating movement and texture reminiscent of rippling water, while subtly echoing the “re” in Re:mAID — reuse, recycle, reimagine.
“It took months of sewing and a lot of patience,” Clodagh laughed. “Hand-stitching 1,500 plectrums definitely tested us — but every single one represents the power of music, so it felt worth it.”
Adding to the 80s rock aesthetic, a tambourine adorns the shoulder, capturing the energy and performance spirit of the era. The striking headpiece is equally imaginative: a ukulele carefully drilled into an old hurling helmet, symbolising the fusion of Irish identity and global music culture. It is embellished with 2750 metres of VHS tape and decorated with reclaimed VHS wheels, securely repurposed to create a bold and dramatic finish.
Molly described the headpiece as one of their favourite elements: “The ukulele and the hurling helmet together show how we combined Irish culture with global music history. Junk Kouture is about thinking outside the box — and we definitely did that!”
What makes Live Re:mAID particularly meaningful is the thoughtful sourcing of materials. Every VHS and cassette used contains media exclusively from artists who performed at Live Aid, seamlessly tying the sustainability message to the historical theme. In an age of digital streaming, these once-loved physical formats — now largely obsolete — have been transformed into a powerful visual reminder of music’s enduring impact.
“We wanted people to look at the dress and remember that music can change the world,” Molly said. “Live Aid proved that. If our design gets people talking about sustainability and helping others, then we’ve done our job.”
Junk Kouture challenges young designers to create high-fashion pieces from recycled materials, but Molly, Clodagh and Erin have gone a step further. They have created a conversation piece — one that celebrates music history, honours humanitarian action, and champions environmental responsibility.
