Celebrations are in order for a lucky Donegal student as the Junk Kouture RTÉ Wildcard entries are announced today.

Floraison, by Niamh Diver Hall has been selected to go to the final of the fashion upcycling contest.

Niamh is a student of Carndonagh Community School.

Her regal look is a representation of the arts community during Covid-19 and how artists and writers have had to overcome many obstacles. Made from old music sheets, butterflies in the design symbolise the emergence from cocooning, while paper flowers show growth during these difficult times.

Floraison, by Niamh Diver Hall, Carndonagh Community School

On Sunday, 35 entries were selected from around the country to appear in this year’s Grand Final.

Two Donegal teams made it through the Regional Finals – Cereuleum – Carndonagh Community School and Halcyon Heist – Scoil Mhuire Buncrana.

For those who did not qualify, there was still hope that they would be thrown a lifeline with the five additional Wildcard places up for grabs.

It was a tough call for the judging panel, made up of Louis Walsh, Michelle Visage, new judge Roz Purcell and fashion designer Stephen McLaughlin, as despite the pandemic, students pulled out all the stops with their designs and there were so many worthy designs entered this year – anyone who tuned in to the Regional Finals last week could attest to that. In the end, it was the incredible attention to detail in five designs in particular that sealed the deal for the judges.

With even more exciting details yet to be released in relation to the Grand Final, stay up to speed with all things Junk Kouture Powered by RTÉ and Supported by Creative Ireland over on their Instagram account @junkkouture, check out the Junk Kouture website junkkouture.com or download the Junk Kouture app, available for both Android and iOS.