MARLBOROUGH – Superintendent Ernest F. Houle is pleased to share that a student in Assabet’s Fashion Club will compete in Junk Kouture’s Fashion World Finals in London.
The sustainable design work of Assabet Valley’s Fashion Club founder Elliot Cosco, a junior from Marlborough, was chosen as one of the top 10 entries to move on to the Junk Kouture Fashion World Finals, which will take place on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the OVO Arena in London, England.
Junk Kouture, a sustainable fashion design competition, challenges young people ages 13-18 to design, upcycle, and create high-end couture from recycled materials, before showcasing their design and representing their school on stages across the world.
Cosco’s recognition came after the Fashion Club found success at the Junk Kouture regional competition in New York City in January. The club is comprised of Cosco, juniors Shanery Burgos Velez and Ned Zimmerman, sophomore Emily Nelson, and first year Karey Carvalho, all of Marlborough, and is advised by Design and Visual Communications Teacher Deborah Harper.
The students began working on their sustainable garments in October. Entries needed to follow specific guidelines, particularly that all materials used must be recycled.
Final submissions were entered into the regional competition, and each contestant was required to submit a story about their garment, conceptual sketches, examples of the work in progress, photographs, and a video of the final garment. Assabet’s Fashion Club submitted three entries, all of which were named finalists.
On Monday, May 15, it was announced that Cosco’s submission, “The Egoist”, won a position in the World Finals. Cosco will compete with students from Abu Dhabi, Dublin, London, New York, Milan, and Paris.
Cosco worked independently and created a social statement with their design. The story of “The Egoist” aims to express the trend of self-absorption. The outfit features a galaxy of planets made from CDs that surround the model, a space helmet, and a bountiful skirt that represents the infinite galactic universe.
Burgos Velez and Zimmerman teamed up to create a fairy tale-inspired costume that they named “Cotton Candy Riding Hood.” The garment was fashioned from a blanket with an added hood, a cardboard chest plate, and boots made from recycled fabric.
Carvalho and Nelson worked together to create their design, “Birdie.” Their garment features a tutu made with layers of sheer curtains, trimmed with paper origami birds. The puffed sleeves were fashioned from white trash bags, the corset was constructed from scrap fabric, and hooks for tightening the corset were made from soda can pop tabs. The outfit was embellished with a sparkling gem belt that was recycled from a wedding gown. The story of the design illustrated that beauty can be found in simple things and has little to do with money.
“The students in Assabet’s Fashion Club are immensely talented. They possess outstanding creativity, passion, and determination, which is reflected in their achievements in the Junk Kouture competition,” said Superintendent Houle. “Congratulations to you all for your accomplishments, and we cannot wait to support Elliot in the World Finals!”
About Junk Kouture
Junk Kouture began in 2010 as a small independent fashion competition for local secondary schools in northwest Ireland. Junk Kouture went global in 2021 and has created an engaged, active, and inspiring community of young people working together to make a difference against climate change. Due to its worldwide appeal, more than 15,000 designs have been created, 60 sold out arena shows have been held, and 40,000 kilograms of waste has been saved from landfills.
Assabet junior Elliot Cosco’s design, “The Egoist,” has been chosen to move onto the Junk Kouture World Finals in London, England. (Photo Courtesy Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School) 
Assabet students Karey Carvalho and Emily Nelson worked together to create their design, “Birdie,” which was a finalist in the regional Junk Kouture competition in New York City. (Photo Courtesy Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School) 
Assabet students Shanery Burgos Velez and Ned Zimmerman teamed up to create a fairytale-inspired costume named “Cotton Candy Riding Hood,” which was a finalist in the regional Junk Kouture competition in New York City. (Photo Courtesy Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School)