St Leonards Competes at Junk Kouture World Final

25 February 2026

Following their success at the London Finals last year, Najann V and Matylda K travelled to Dublin this month to represent St Leonards at the Junk Kouture World Final.

Their dress, originally selected from more than 1600 entries, was one of just ten chosen to progress to the global stage. The design was created from a range of repurposed materials, including boning made from milk bottle cartons, strips of sheets from St Rule boarding house and charity shop finds.

In Dublin, they joined more than 50 design teams from across Italy, the US, Dubai, Ireland, the UK and France for what proved to be a fantastic experience.

Although they did not take home the top prize on this occasion, reaching the World Final is a remarkable achievement. The dedication and creativity shown by both pupils throughout the process have been remarkable.

The girls were accompanied to Dublin by Miss Lamont from the Art Department, whose support, along with that of the wider department, has been invaluable throughout the project. Although largely a pupil-driven project, they were also supported by costume designer Emma Brown, a St Leonards parent and one of our Artists in Residence for the 2026-2027 academic year.

We are immensely proud of Najann and Matylda and all they have achieved. Reaching the Junk Kouture World Final is a significant accomplishment and a testament to their hard work and vision.