Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle inspire Junk Kouture competition entry by Ursuline Thurles pupils

Junk Kouture is  a fashion competition challenging schools to design, upcycle and create high-end sustainable fashion from recycled junk and three students from the Ursuline Thurles are involved this year. 

‘Race To The Finish’ - designed and created by Anna O Callaghan, Sophie Quirke and Julia McHugh all students of Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles and is their entry for the Junk Kouture competition 2024.

Background:

The goal of this design is to highlight the success of women in sport, showing how they can succeed in male dominated sports like horse racing.

Inspired by the jockey Rachael Blackmore’s success as a sportswoman. The team focused on Rachael Blackmore wins on Honeysuckle, especially their two Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle wins.

The colour scheme is based on Honeysuckle's racing colours. The bodice is made from off cuts of Honeysuckle’s colours. The sustainability message in this design is finding a use for waste from farm and horse yards. All the materials on the dress are horse related including racing silks, horseshoes, horsehair, bailing twine, leather and feed sacks. The head piece is in the shape of a circle symbolizing the finishing post on a racecourse.

‘Race To The Finish’ demonstrates sporting equality with the aim of supporting all young jockeys on their road to success.

Rachael Blackmore with Anna O Callaghan, Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles pupil at Punchestown Festival this week showcasing Anna in her Junk Kouture outfit, inspired by the Tipperary jockey and her winning partnership with Honeysuckle. Photo: Caroline Norris.