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CANADIAN SCHOOL OF FLORENCE recognized at Junk Kouture Finals

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CANADIAN SCHOOL OF FLORENCE recognized at Junk Kouture Finals

 

Sustainability steals the spotlight at Junk Kouture World Final 2025

“STELLA” from CANADIAN SCHOOL OF FLORENCE, ITALY 
recognised for creativity and impact on the global stage

Dublin, Ireland – 4 March 2025:
 

Sustainability stole the spotlight at The Helix in Dublin as 60 striking fashion designs, created by students aged 12–19 from secondary schools across six countries, lit up the Junk Kouture World Final 2025 runway — each crafted entirely from recycled materials and showcasing boundary-pushing creativity. Representing ITALY with his design, “STELLA”, created by DARIO CARAMANI from CANADIAN SCHOOL OF FLORENCE, FLORENCE, ITALY, with support from HIGH SCHOOL FASHION TEACHER, MS. JULIA DI LORENZO, impressed judges with originality, purpose, and bold sustainable storytelling.

The design, constructed using GUM WRAPPERS speaks to themes such as sustainability, transforming discarded items into a powerful message of resilience and change.
 
Founded in Ireland in 2010, Junk Kouture celebrates its 15th year inspiring students across the country to turn waste into wearable art. Since going global in September 2021, the programme has evolved into an international platform for creative changemakers — open to all students aged 12–19, regardless of background or experience. The 2025 World Final marked the third-ever global showdown, bringing together finalists from Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, the USA, and the UAE — each showcasing designs that fused innovation, sustainability, and storytelling to inspire change on the world stage.
 
Designs were evaluated by a prestigious panel of judges, including American eco-designer, climate activist and Global Junk Kouture ambassador Maya Penn, Buying Director of Primark Sally Taylor, Parisian fashion voice and advocate for sustainability Lise Pierron, and designer Stephen McLaughlin, founder of SML London.

Awards were presented for the six City Designers of the Year—celebrating talent from Dublin, London, Paris, Milan, New York, and Abu Dhabi—with one exceptional design receiving the title of Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year 2025.

“STELLA” stood proudly among them, representing ITALY with creativity and a commitment to sustainable change, proving that fashion has the power to inspire a global movement.
 
Hear directly from the student:
 
“The Junk Kouture World Final was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. When I dreamt up the idea of using chewing gum wrappers to create a dress I never thought that I would end up at the world finals. The days leading up to the world finals were stressful and nerve-wracking as the model, who I made the dress fit perfectly, couldn't come to Dublin at the last minute. I found myself three days before the finals calling my cousin and asking her to model the dress. Luckily she agreed and was very excited to be involved. However, we had a major problem as the dress and shoes did not fit her. When I arrived in Dublin the day before the world finals, my cousin and I spent hours cutting, sewing, and gluing to adjust the dress to fit her. After about 2 hours of fun but hard work, the dress looked fantastic and fit her perfectly. We spent the rest of the evening designing the makeup look and practicing her walk in the hallways of the hotel making sure that the timing was perfect. After all that was figured out the last thing to do was wait, wait until the morning, wait to get to the venue, wait to practice, and wait until I could see my cousin energetically parade my design down the runway in front of thousands of people. The World Final show was an energetic showcase of original young designers modeling unique, quirky, and innovative outfits made from materials ranging from paper clips to vinyl records, from pistachio shells to clam shells and old wedding dresses to old life vests, all junk materials brought to life on an enigmatic runway. The evening itself was energetic, fun, and very rewarding. 
 
My design was inspired by disco balls, I wanted to use something that is quickly thrown away like chewing gum wrappers, and allow them to shine. I sewed over 500 chewing gum wrappers together to mimic the fragility of a disco ball. The dress is made from recycled materials, I used scrap fabric, old pillowcases, and t-shirts as the lining and for the underskirt and loofas to add volume to the design. For me, the dress represents fragile beauty and shows that no matter how shattered something is it can still shine and reflect light. While making the dress I learned how with each new crinkle, crease, or shard, one new ray of hope will bounce off them. 
 
The Junk Kouture experience was really exciting and offered an amazing opportunity. Junk Kouture encourages students to think sustainably and creatively while enhancing problem-solving skills that are applicable to any situation not just fashion. It brings together creative, artistic, and talented students from all over the world and really is a totally unique opportunity to be able to create and showcase your original design. Junk Kouture allows you to set your imagination free, to delve into “junk” and come out with couture. It taught me so much in terms of creativity and problem-solving as well as networking in the world of fashion. The organization is totally unique in providing these opportunities and support for creative young minds across the globe. For me, being a part of Junk Kouture was really special and rewarding and definitely one that helped me bring my design to life by opening my mind to the possibility of using unusual and unconventional materials.”
 
--- Dario Caramani
 
About Junk Kouture 
 
Junk Kouture is a global youth sustainable fashion competition that challenges 12–19-year-olds to design, create and model high fashion made entirely from recycled materials. Founded in Ireland in 2010, Junk Kouture has empowered over 100,000 students and is now active in cities around the world. By merging creativity with climate action, Junk Kouture enables young people to reimagine waste and become the changemakers of tomorrow.

Junk Kouture can be implemented across the curriculum — from STEAM subjects and Project-Based Learning, civic and environmental education, and more. Schools and educators also deliver Junk Kouture through after-school clubs, sustainability programmes, arts and textiles. The flexibility of the programme means it can support key educational goals while nurturing creativity, collaboration, and innovation in young people.

Want to get involved?  
 

Find out more at www.junkkouture.com or get in touch at brona@junkkouture.com.
 
Full list of winners: 
  • Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year is ‘Aquacultural’ by Clodagh Ramsey from Wilson’s Hospital School, Co Westmeath. This 32kg organic waste design champions sustainable food production and gender equality, made from over 2000 mussel shells. 
  • Junk Kouture Dublin Designer of the Year is ‘Aquacultural’ by Clodagh Ramsey from Wilson’s Hospital School, Co Westmeath. This 32kg organic waste design champions sustainable food production and gender equality, made from over 2000 mussel shells. 
  • Junk Kouture London Designer of the Year is ‘The Joanie’ by Ella Sharp from Hillhead High School, Glasgow. Inspired by the 40th anniversary of women’s Olympic marathon participation, ‘The Joanie’ honors Joan Benoit, the trailblazer who proved women belong in elite sports. 
  • Junk Kouture Milan Designer of the Year is ‘Mermurder’ by Elena Bonoli, Mila Cipolloni, Maia Giustiniani from Liceo Artistico Donato Bramante, Italy. Inspired by 19th-century fashion and the devastating impact of whaling, ‘Mermurder’ highlights the exploitation of whales and ocean pollution. 
  • Junk Kouture Paris Designer of the Year is ‘Black and White’ by Raphaël Bernard, Liliane Verbeke, Timmy Dahmani from Lycée Sonia Delaunay, France, made entirely from black and white denim. Its bold patchwork shows the difference between waste and renewal. 
  • Junk Kouture New York Designer of the Year is ‘Aqua Marina’ by Lisbeth Tavard, Isabella Vallejo from Union City High School, New Jersey. Made from 70 discarded life jackets and 60 repurposed water bottles, this design reflects the damage caused by human waste. 
  • Junk Kouture Abu Dhabi Designer of the Year is ‘Sanskriti’ by Catherine Deyis from Sharjah English School. It blends sustainability and Indian heritage in a traditional lengha choli. 
  • Winner of the Junior Designer Award Powered by EUROSPAR is ‘Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover’ by Irmak Karakus and Thasmika Naidoo from Sunmarke School, Dubai, UAE, challenges society’s habit of making assumptions based on appearance.
  • Winner of the Wearable Art Award Powered by Claire Garvey Designer is ‘Lír’s Child’ by Caitlin Clarke, Amy Rose Lynam from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Dublin.
  • Winner of the Ready to Wear Award ‘Cerulean’ by Tabitha Riley from Ribston Hall High School, Gloucester, a tribute to creativity, education, and sustainability made from window blinds. 
  • Winner of the STEAM Award Powered by Atlantic Technological University is ‘La Voix Du Congo’ by Hasseena Atariwa and Nassima Achiba from High School of Fashion Industries, New York City. The design sheds light on the link between modern technology and the struggles over minerals that fuel instability.
  • Winner of the Innovation Award Powered by DHL is ‘Natural Allure’ by Stephanie O’Connor and Sienna Howe from Colaiste Bride, Wexford. It celebrates sustainable fashion using 100% handmade, biodegradable bark cloth from the Mutuba tree. 
  • Winner of the Cultural Couture Award Powered by Dublin City Council is ‘Eclectic Earth Ensemble’, made by Priya Sivadas, Niharika Pramod, Krupa Varughese made from date palm leaves, jute, sackcloth and coconut husk. 
  • Winner of the SDG Award is ‘Vision Zero’ by Christina Whelan, Tara Johnson and Caitlin Cussen from Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles. Inspired by the RSA’s Vision Zero campaign and a personal bike accident, ‘Vision Zero’ raises awareness of road safety.
  • Winner of the Performance Award is ‘Alpacalypse’ by Emma Kinahan, Lucy Champ, Emma Keane from Moate Community School, Westmeath made from 5kg of organic alpaca wool with twine and leather details.
  • Winner of the Purposeful Plastic Award is ‘Calypso’ by Mia Gicquel and Isabella Godfrey from Jersey College For Girls, Jersey made entirely from plastic, transforming 2kg of waste into couture.
  • Winner of the Glamour Award is ‘Girl on Fire’ by Sabrine Abouelouafa El Idrissi, Malak Abouelouafa El Idrissi from Istituto Arturo Checchi, Italy, it captures nature’s raw power and promise of renewal.
 
For more information:
 
Katie – katie@junkkouture.com 
Brona – brona@junkkouture.com