Arab News Japan

DUBAI: In honor of the UAE’s 50th National Day on December 2, the world’s largest sustainable youth fashion programme Junk Kouture has launched a competition entitled “50 Thrifty Headpiece Design Competition” where students will come together to showcase their creative skills through the creation of headdresses using recycled materials.

The competition aims to empower local talents to unleash their creative potential while simultaneously educating them about sustainable design through the conversion of an item categorized as “junk” into a fashion piece that tells a story of the UAE, in order to drive growth towards a circular fashion system.

“Junk Kouture want to instil the idea that, in order to make an impact on our planet, we must realise that not all trash is waste. In fact, we should view it as ‘raw material’ that has the potential to create something new and wonderful. With the help of all our participating students in the UAE and across the globe, we hope to spread this message further, and more powerfully, than ever before,” Katie Brill, Vice president of Public Relations and Communications at Junk Kouture, told Arab News Japan.

Katie Brill, Vice president of Public Relations and Communications at Junk Kouture. (Supplied)

The competition is open to UAE-based students aged 8-18, offering them the unique opportunity to challenge themselves through participating in a fashion contest with designs created only from recycled materials. 

To enter, interested parties are required to submit their designs via the Junk Kouture Instagram handle by November 29.

Participants will be asked to include a photo of their headpiece design with their name, age and school. Additionally, they will need to submit a short video of themselves offering an explanation about “what changes they hope the UAE will make in the next 50 years to positively impact the planet.”

Schools that wish to participate in the competition should register through the Junk Kouture website.

“When we were first researching the UAE and how it was marking its 50-year anniversary, we came across a publication that detailed the UAE’s vision for the next 50 years. We were delighted to see that it aligned perfectly with the ethos of Junk Kouture: both ourselves and the UAE want to create a more inclusive society, spark creativity in young people and emphasise sustainability. Considering these impressive goals, we decided that the UAE was the optimal place for us to nurture Junk Kouture in the Middle East region,” Brill said.

Creations made from discarded rubbish are modelled in Abu Dhabi for the launch of Junk Kouture. (Supplied)

The winning designs, which will be announced on December 2, will be featured on the Junk Kouture’s social media channels, will be rewarded with two tickets to the Junk Kouture World Final in 2022, and will be provided with two AED 400 vouchers to spend at the sustainable street and activewear brand, The Giving Movement.

“Through the Junk Kouture World Tour, we want to educate young people in the UAE about climate change and sustainability. We want to promote creative expression amongst young people, and generate lasting positive change to help tackle environmental issues,” Brill said.

“Most of all, I’m so excited to hear how the UAE’s students think we should be promoting sustainable practices. I’m confident that they will be full of imaginative and amazing ideas, and I’m sure we will have lots of fun along the way,” Brill added.

Creations made from discarded rubbish are modelled in Dubai for the launch of Junk Kouture. (Supplied)

Having recently expanded to the UAE, Junk Kouture is making considerable progress and is in discussions with students throughout the country, with more than 100 schools anticipated to participate in the competition.

“The reception so far has been tremendous from both schools and students with many participants taking part since launching last week. As we all know, creativity will play a crucial role in finding sustainable solutions to help pull our planet back from the biggest crisis it’s ever faced so what better way to celebrate the past 50 and to envision the developments of the next 50 years in the UAE by giving the youth a voice through this fun challenge,” Brill said.