Carlow’s Youth get environmentally creative for Cruinniú na nÓg 2020

The Environment Department of Carlow County Council issued a challenge to the young people of Carlow for Cruinniú na nÓg 2020. The challenge was to #reimagine and #remake a new functional piece of clothing from old textiles that were ready for the Charity Shop or even worse, the bin.

Jannette O Brien A/Environmental Awareness Officer said “This year was the first year that the Environment Department partnered with our Arts Office, who organise and manage the Cruinniú na nÓg Carlow Programme. Our young people are demanding change and are calling for climate action. This competition was a way to tap into their creativity and empower them to do something that has a direct impact on fast fashion”

There was a terrific response to the competition, where textiles of all sorts were used to create some fashionable and funky pieces. From tee shirts transformed to handbags and sweatshirts to fashionable skirts, the entries came rolling in.

The winner of the Scraptastic Competition was Kate Campion from Palatine who’s Button Dress astounded judges.” I made the dress using an old pair of cream cord trousers belonged to my grandad and a really old pair of red trousers that my aunt wore when she was teenager.” Says 11-year-old Kate “To design it I took odd buttons from my nans button tin. I made the flowers using scraps of wool to crochet the stems and sewed on the stem and put buttons on top. I made the pockets by just taking the pockets off my aunts’ trousers and sewing them on. Kate adds.

Talented Kate learned to sew and knit from very early age with her Nanny Colette and did a sewing course last year where she learned how to use a sewing machine.

Sinead Dowling Arts Office said, “The Arts Office and the Culture Team of Carlow County Council were thrilled with the young people’s response to Cruinniú na nÓg 2020 and in particular to the Scraptastic upcycle Challenge which lent itself so well to our theme of the Sky is Blue, which focused on our environment and how we have an important part to play in protecting it.”