County Roscommon student a cut above the rest
Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown student Orla Jackson who has won a national student fashion design competition, overcoming keen competition in the process.
A Strokestown student has proved she’s a cut above the rest following her win in a national student fashion design competition, overcoming keen competition in the process.
Orla Jackson from Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, was successful in the Best Tailoring category of Ireland’s first-ever national Relove Fashion Grand Final, a showcase for reloved and upcycled clothing.
The competition is supported by the Environment section of Roscommon County Council.
The finals were held at the Rediscovery Centre in Dublin, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy.
As one of the overall winners Orla received an upcycled trophy. As well as winning the overall title in the Best Tailoring competition, she was also successful in the Connacht-Ulster category of the competition.
A native of Tarmonbarry, Orla is a Transition Year student at Scoil Mhuire. The daughter of Adrian and Fiona Jackson, her winning entry saw her design a top out of one of her dad’s old shirts, a skirt from a duvet cover and a jacket made from preloved clothes.
Clearly delighted with her success, Orla is considering a career in fashion and design. She was assisted in her efforts by her art teacher in Strokestown, Keith Murray.
As a counter-movement to challenge fast fashion, the competition encourages teenage designers from across the country to showcase innovative, upcycled outfits made entirely from preloved textiles - transforming everything from old cushion covers to moth-eaten berets into stylish, wearable fashion.
This year marked the competition’s expansion to 26 local authority areas, where over 400 young people aged 12–19 across Ireland were encouraged to rethink fast fashion and embrace creativity, building skills in reuse, repair, and redesign.
Environmental Education and Awareness Officer with Roscommon County Council, Jonathan Jones congratulated Orla on her success: “On behalf of our local authority, I would like to warmly congratulate Orla on her tremendous success.
“Thanks to all the competition entrants and indeed all of our schools who have embraced the concept of developing reloved clothing in a sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion.
“Embracing the concept of developing sustainable clothing, our commitment as a local authority is to actively support a circular and sustainable economy which everyone, young and old, can embrace. Roscommon County Council is committed in achieving our goals of meeting our climate action targets," said Mr Jones.
The panel of judges included author Laura de Barra; broadcaster Lorraine Keane; Joanne Rourke of Dublin City Council and the National Waste Regions and Arran Murphy, Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion.
