Offaly native part of Moate's Junk Kouture world finalist group

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Offaly native Lucy Champ is part of Moate Community School's Junk Kouture World Finalist group.

The 17-year old is part of the team that designed 'Alpacalypse', a dress made of recycled alpaca wool and leather.

Lucy is also the model of the design, which is set to take the stage at the World Final after becoming one of ten selected for the international competition.

“Our dress will be broadcast worldwide, so that's a great opportunity for us," Lucy said, speaking on the success of their design.

At the World Final for this year's competition, Lucy and her team will take on design champs from London, Milan, Paris, New York, and Dubai in a bid to snag the crown of World Designer of the Year.

The Offaly native has been spurred on to pursue a career in fashion, noting that participating in Junk Kouture has been a dream come true for her. “I've always wanted to do Junk Kouture from a young age,” Lucy said. “I think it would be so fun to work in couture as a career.”

One big step into the fashion world came when the design was selected to be showcased as part of Brown Thomas's Create display in Dublin - an honour which was previously bestowed upon Moate Community School's last Junk Kouture World Champions #TagMe.

Lucy has said that she couldn't be more proud of herself and her team mates Emma Kinahan and Emma Keane.

"We're all so proud of each other and how far we've come together," Lucy said. “A lot of hard work went into it, a lot of hours, and we've all gotten closer because of it.”

Moate Community School art teacher Pamela Keogh is just 'delighted' with the girls success, noting them as an inspiration for younger students.

“Their success really promotes the competition in the school. It gives students a reason to get involved.”