Three Transition Year students from Kinsale Community School have turned electronic waste into high fashion, creating a striking dress made entirely from discarded computer parts and earning a place in the Junk Kouture regional finals in Dublin.

The students — Abhilina Ní Riain, Aoife Ferguson and Hollie O’Donovan — designed and constructed the piece, titled Augmented Humanity, using waste Cat 6 data cables, computer keyboard keys and printed circuit boards salvaged from old computers.

Their design was selected from over 1,200 entries across Ireland and will now compete against 59 other designs at the Junk Kouture regional finals taking place at The Helix in Dublin on 9 March 2026.

The dress was created using discarded materials supplied by local Kinsale computer company Elasnik, whose team — led by Michelle and Trevor Ryan — supported the project by collecting electronic waste components for the students to repurpose. The students spent months stripping and weaving kilometres of cable to form a fabric-like structure that holds the keyboard keys and computer chips.

The concept behind Augmented Humanity explores the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence and environmental responsibility. Inspired by science fiction films such as The Matrix and The Fifth Element, the designers imagined a future where humans and technology merge through intelligent clothing.

The project also highlights the growing issue of electronic waste. Irish consumers generated more than 11 million items of ‘invisible’ e-waste in 2023, including cables and small electronic devices that are often discarded or forgotten in drawers.

By transforming these materials into fashion, the students hope to raise awareness about the environmental impact of electronic waste and encourage people to consider repair, reuse, upcycling and responsible recycling before sending devices to landfill.

If successful at the regional finals, the team could progress to the Junk Kouture national finals and potentially the world final next year.