Young Athlone woman to feature in Junk Kouture film documentary
A young Athlone woman will feature in a special documentary to be premiered in a Dublin cinema next week before its airing on RTE.
Techinee Nawaing (19) from Athlone, Cian Newman (20) from Dublin, and Niamh Porter (24) from Donegal are the subjects of ‘Waking the Muse’, a documentary commissioned by the Creative Ireland Programme and Junk Kouture.
The film follows the three young creatives who joined the Junk Kouture community while in secondary school in Ireland and who have gone on to pursue their passion for art, fashion and design after their participation in the competition.
Award-winning Irish filmmaker Seán Treacy (17) and Junk Kouture production coordinator Órla Morris Toolen (21) are co-directors and producers.
The documentary, which has its World Premiere in the Savoy Cinema in Dublin on Thursday, October 28, airs on RTÉ2 at 4.05pm on Saturday, October 30.
It follows Techinee, known as New, Cian and Niamh as they are challenged to work together to design, source and create a unique design to be modelled in New York for Climate Week NYC during which Junk Kouture was the Sustainable Living partner this year.
The three designers are guided by Junk Kouture judge and successful fashion designer Stephen McLaughlin as they demonstrate what it takes to produce a Junk Kouture masterpiece.
Throughout the documentary, each designer shares their story of what Junk Kouture meant for them.
New joined Transition Year in Our Lady’s Bower in Athlone when she moved to Ireland from Thailand.
At the time New had very little English but, encouraged by her art teacher, she became involved in Junk Kouture where she not only exhibited her creative brilliance but made new friends and improved her command of English.
Illustrating that Junk Kouture is much more than just a competition, ‘Waking the Muse’ will allow viewers to learn more about what inspired these past participants to become involved in Junk Kouture in the first place and what they gained from their experience.
It will explore the positive effects on mental health a community like Junk Kouture can have for the individual, the opportunities that lie ahead for anyone who takes part, and how this is a platform for young people to express themselves freely, while embracing sustainable habits and becoming the changemakers of our world.
The world premiere of ‘Waking the Muse’, will take place in the Savoy Cinema on O’Connell Street, Dublin on Thursday, October 28.
The documentary will also be aired by RTÉ on Saturday, October 30 on RTÉ2 at 4.05pm. The Creative Ireland programme is an initiative by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.