Ball gown made from recycled materials lands its young Inverness creator a place in Junk Kouture World Final

A creative 18-year-old is jumping for joy after getting to the world finals of a fashion competition with a ball gown created from recycled materials including a trampoline.

Órla Ní Eadhra will model her creation at the Junk Kouture World Final in Abu Dhabi in January.

She was selected as one of 10 UK finalists in the global youth sustainable fashion competition to create and model high-end couture from everyday junk.

They will join the other finalists selected in Paris, Milan, Dublin, New York and Abu Dhabi

Her creation, Jump for Joy, was made from materials including a childhood trampoline damaged in a storm, an old bicycle wheel and chocolate wrappers.

Watch: Ball gown created from recycled materials in UK finals of competition

Órla, who was a pupil at Inverness Royal Academy when she entered the competition, was the very last winner to be announced when the UK finals were screened.

“I thought I had been missed out,” said Órla who lives in the Drummond area with parents Brian Ó hEadhra and Fionnag NicChoinnich, and sibling, Ró.

“I really didn’t think I had done it.”

The judges included fashion designer Fabio Piras, the director of Central St Martin’s MA Fashion Course at the University of the Arts, London, who “absolutely loved” the outfit.

“It is about absolute attitude and it ticks all my boxes in that sense,” Mr Piras said.

“It is a great silhouette. It is a great fashion statement.

“It is unexpected and unpredictable in its choice of materials.”

Mr Piras said it showed understanding in styling fashion and in use of materials.

“I was amazed – he said so many nice things about my design,” said Órla who will model the outfit in front of an audience, including celebrity judges and industry experts, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

“I will be out of my comfort zone,” she acknowledged although she is also excited about meeting others during the four-day event. “I think I am most scared about walking in heels!”

In the meantime, Órla will take up a role as an au pair in Frankfurt before doing Scandinavian studies and German at Edinburgh University next year.

Despite her passion and talent for sewing, Órla previously said she had not considered a career in fashion design.

While she currently intends to continue with her plans, she said being a finalist in the competition had made her aware of the increased opportunities – and she will be taking her sewing machine with her to Germany.

“Hopefully, it will make more opportunities available to me,” she said.

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