A Glasgow teenager dazzled judges at the world finals of a famous sustainable fashion competition.
Ella Sharp, a pupil at Hillhead High in the West End, won Junk Kouture’s London category (which includes Scottish contestants) with a stunning dress made from discarded race paraphernalia such as foil blankets and running vest numbers.
Recently, the talented teenager joined fellow pupils from Milan, New York, Paris, Abu Dhabi and Dublin at the glittering finale in Ireland.
Outfits on the catwalk included a dress made from seatbelts salvaged from junkyards, a design involving old lifejackets and the eventual winner, Aquacultural, Dublin pupil Clodagh Ramsey’s dress made from 2000 waste mussel shells.
Ella’s fabulous creation, The Joanie, was inspired by the 40th anniversary of women's Olympic marathon participation and trailblazer Joan Benoit, who proved women belonged in elite sport.
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Keen runner Ella, who is now hoping to study fashion design, explained: “Being a passionate designer and athlete, I decided to fuse my love of fashion and running.
“Athletic events promote physical and mental wellbeing but leave a legacy of unwanted paraphernalia, like foil blankets and race numbers.
“I repurposed discarded materials to create an outfit which both celebrates achievement and promotes sustainability.”
The Joanie comprises “medals” fashioned from foil blankets for the bodice, and a grand skirt created from shredded race numbers.
Ella adds: “Accessories include jewellery crafted from safety pins and vintage replica trainers as worn by Joan Benoit 40 years ago.
“I experimented with weaving, crocheting and origami to create this imaginative piece. The Joanie is a symbol of my own athletic journey, but also conveys how fashion can provide powerful political narratives by representing female strength and resilience by contrasting past female repression.”
Ella said the experience of making it to the final in Dublin was “incredible”.
“I spent several unforgettable days attending workshops and talks and exploring the city,” she said. “Throughout my adventures, I met the most inspiring and talented individuals—each sharing my passion for unconventional, junk-focused creativity.
“Every finalist was deeply invested in their project, and each garment told a unique story.”
Ella is hoping to move to London to study, where she wants to specialise in women’s knitwear, bringing a “Scottish flair” to the world of high-end fashion.
“I’m working on making bags using deadstock fabric from across Scotland to create durable and stylish pieces,” she said.
“The Joanie taught me invaluable lessons about my working style and the problem-solving required in this field of design. I am deeply passionate about celebrating the beauty of Scottish culture.
“Carrying the Scottish flag at the Junk Kouture final was a moment of immense pride, and I want to continue drawing inspiration from my heritage as I develop my work.”
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