PICTURES: Amazing Junk Kouture entries from Kilkenny City Vocational School

"The Pavee Princess"

Cilla and Priscilla’s project fuses together a unique blend of traditional Irish Traveller elements and intertwines them with the opulence of Rococo royalty, creating a distinctive and visually captivating expression of Irish Traveller identity.

The name Pavee means “the walking people” and was chosen to celebrate and reference the nomadic lifestyle of the travelling community.

The travelling community often faces discrimination which can lead to challenges in areas such as education, employment, and access to services.

The aim of “The Pavee Princess” is to highlight the importance of embracing diversity and understanding the cultural significance of their heritage in fostering a more inclusive society.

This creation intricately weaves together discarded materials of table cloths, curtains, broken jewelry, CDs, plastic aprons and bottle caps but most importantly disposable paper and plastic cutlery such as plates and cup lids.

The disposable cutlery is representative of the societal expectation for Irish travelling women to be domesticated.

This is something rooted in historical norms. Despite significant strides towards gender equality, women often face pressure to conform to traditional roles centered around homemaking and caregiving.

This expectation can limit opportunities for personal and professional growth, perpetuating stereotypes that disregard individual aspirations.

Challenging these norms is crucial for fostering a more inclusive society, where women are free to pursue diverse paths and define their identities beyond prescribed domestic roles.