Etihad Airways, the national carrier of UAE, has partnered with Junk Kouture, the world’s largest sustainable youth fashion competition.
The partnership will see an exciting offering across multiple communication channels, joining the sustainability goals and efforts of both companies. As part of the agreement, Etihad will provide flights to all competing teams in Junk Kouture across five international markets.
Locally, Etihad will donate obsolete aircraft items such as old seat covers, carpets, cabin crew uniforms and life vests to UAE schools participating in Junk Kouture for upcycling and use in their student’s designs. A range of social media and content offerings will be developed and produced amplifying the message of grassroots change.
The partnership is announced in the lead-up to the first-ever World Final of Junk Kouture at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi scheduled for 11 January 2023. The iconic gold venue will host the high-octane event celebrating youth creativity, sustainability, performance and self-expression. Sixty designs, including 10 from the UAE, and their teams from New York, London, Milan, Paris and Dublin will be flown to Abu Dhabi by Etihad Airways to compete for the title of World Designer of the Year.
“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Junk Kouture which reinforces our position as a leader in sustainability. As the UAE’s national airline, we are proud to extend our own sustainability ambitions to empower our partners to contribute in their own way. In the past, we’ve successfully partnered with artists to recycle aircraft parts into sculptures, and we’re excited about this latest journey into the world of fashion.”
Mr. Troy Armour CEO of Junk Kouture said that “We totally recognize and commend the tremendous efforts Etihad Airways are making towards sustainability and we’ve been blown away by their passion for what Junk Kouture is doing at the grassroots level. They understand and want to support our drive for change in sustainability through creativity and innovation in young people, creating the circular engineers of tomorrow. Partnering with a global brand like Etihad Airways which aligns with our ethos and values, cements our mission at Junk Kouture and we look forward to having the team at Etihad Airways and Miral alongside us to make it happen!”
Curated to shine a light on the importance of climate change through creativity, Junk Kouture challenges young people to make striking and imaginative outfits out of 100 percent recyclable materials and items that are often unfairly labeled as waste. Etihad Airways are also using innovation and creativity to transform the future of flying and they are leading the industry in decarbonizing aviation.
