Microsoft has struck up a new partnership with the youth sustainable fashion platform, Junk Kouture to support the competition’s mission to raise awareness and educate the next generation about circular systems in fashion.
Joined in an ambition to empower the engineers of tomorrow, the partnership will also celebrate solutions where technology and creativity work hand-in-hand to help drive change in the fashion industry.
Junk Kouture is a creative programme that challenges young people aged between 13 and 18 to design, upcycle, and create high-end couture from 100% recycled materials before showcasing their sustainable designs at live events across the globe.
Dubbed ‘The Eurovision for fashion and creative young people’ the competition focuses on creating the circular engineers of tomorrow, by taking junk and applying creativity and innovation to make garments suited for a fashion runway.
The partnership will see Microsoft and Junk Kouture collaborate to develop Masterclasses that can be viewed on Microsoft’s Flip platform, a video discussion app to share videos and build communities by learning together. Microsoft Flip will be the primary platform to connect masterclass experts from the world of fashion and sustainability with the global creative community of educators and students.
“Microsoft and Junk Kouture share a vision to empower the next generation and encourage future circular engineers through connected education. Our technology allies with Junk Kouture’s mission and enables accessible information for students across the globe, no matter where they are,” said Maruschka Loubser, director of global brand partnerships at Microsoft.
“As a brand, Microsoft has a strong foundation in supporting and empowering people and organisations in the fashion industry – to inspire creativity and innovation and build a more inclusive and sustainable future.”
The brand licensing industry got its first taste of the Junk Kouture platform at Brand Licensing Europe 2022 when Products of Change brought to competition to London ExCeL to showcase the creativity of talented young designers. The Junk Kouture BLE catwalk was opened with a keynote talk from Caroline Petite, the deputy director from the United Nations Regional Information Centre.
Microsoft’s campaign will showcase designs from the 2022 programme and connect these two important topics and themes of the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) that are a priority for Junk Kouture. Content including student Masterclasses will be released monthly from February to June and will cover the following:
Quality Education with Back to the Future in Dublin – a futuristic coat of armour that represents reconnecting with our planet to save the next generation.
Responsible Consumption & Production with Tree of Life in Milan – raising awareness of pollution and environmental damage, the Tree of Life aims to increase awareness for respect and love for our planet.
Gender Equality with Soaring High in London – a design based on women flying high over society, representing stereotypes of gender and breaking the norm.
Climate Action with Gaia in Abu Dhabi – Gaia is a goddess inspired design based on natural elements, symbolising the UAE’s trees, palms, and desert climate.
Sustainable Cities & Communities with Nightingale in New York – Nightingale was created to honour all nurses and medical professions who sacrificed their lives over the pandemic. The design represents the hope and virtue that spirits these industries.
Reduced Inequalities with Divide and Conquer in Paris – based on the avant-garde take on Pierrot and Harlequin from the Commedia dell’arte, the division of social classes is characterised through design and materials.
In addition to the Masterclasses, Microsoft will support a new awards category within the competition – the Microsoft STEAM Award – created and handed out at the 2023 World final of Junk Kouture later this year. The award will be presented to the design and designers that best integrate elements of STEAM into their work.
Troy Armour, ceo and founder of Junk Kouture, said: “Young people can often feel helpless in the face of the climate crisis and that’s why at Junk Kouture, we give them a global platform and the tools to use their voice and the creative outlet to showcase their solutions.
“Our ambition is to reach 1 billion young people over the next ten years, generating lasting behavioural change through creativity and education content around STEAM and sustainability that impacts our planet’s future along the way.
“We create the next generation of changemakers, and that’s why it is vital for us to collaborate with the right partners like Microsoft, that not only align with our vision and values but have the global experience to help us achieve this ambition.
“We’re excited to have the team at Microsoft join us on this exciting journey.”
