Local Style Junkie Winners Are Unveiled


Clever costumes are created out of waste

The winners of this year's Merton Council's Style Junkie competition, in which costumes were made from recycled material, included Wimbledon College of Arts Student Jennifer Gregory.

Crafted from waste materials which most people might throw away, the students' winning costumes were judged for their creativity, vision and artistic skill.

Jennifersaid: "I am really chuffed to have won! I'm proud of my costume and it goes to show what you can create from scraps and left over fabrics which otherwise would have been thrown away. Recycling is really important and an issue we are all aware of."

Jayne Knowles, Associate Dean at the Wimbledon College of Arts, said: "Wimbledon College of Arts has been delighted to work with Merton Council and the Merton Mega Recycle campaign on the Style Junkies competition.

"As the leading college for Theatre and Costume studies we have been impressed with the innovation and design of the costumes shortlisted, the consideration for making and the inventive use of found and recycled materials. For us sustainability has become a key part of learning, and our courses dedicate time and resources to the teaching of sustainable practices and ideas."

Judge and Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: "Deciding on the winners was such a tough task given the stand-out quality of all the entries. This was a chance to see the fashion designers and innovators of the future at work and I was proud to be a part of the competition.

"Well done to all who took part and particularly to the winning designers. The underlying message has really come through – that we need to think twice before we throw things away. Recycling materials can create something new that is beautiful, meaningful and useful."

The nine shortlisted entries were:

Primary school:

First place - Jasmine Nguyen, Hatfield Primary School

Second place - Year 4 & 5 Thrilling Thursday Group, Poplar Primary School

Third place - Kestrels Class, Garfield Primary School

Secondary School:

First place - Zoe Elumeze-Smith and Helen Agyeman from Ursuline High School

Second place - Sean Snowden, Joel Delaney and Will Bartlett from Rutlish

Third place - Rachel Ogunleye and Gabrielle Akyena from Ursuline High School

Wimbledon College of Art:

First place - Jennifer Gregory

Second place - Ya-Chi Lin

Third place - Becky Williams.

The winning costumes will be on display at The Sustainability Centre, the Stable Yard, Morden Hall Park, between June 29-July 26, 11am to 4pm. Alongside the fabulous costumes, you will be able to see how recycled materials are reprocessed and try out some fantastic chairs and other objects made from recycled materials.

June 11, 2015

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Jennifer Gregory and her design

Second-placed secondary school was Rutlish