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Circular Feature:
Evelina, Adam & Ola’s Gothic Revival
Students from Gort Community School in Galway, Evelina Zilakauska, Adam Hawrylo, and Ola Mamala, created a dramatic, gothic-inspired outfit that began with an incredible find of a crinoline skirt found in a local charity shop. Using a range of preloved and donated fabrics, the trio transformed forgotten materials into a striking, layered look.
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MORE ABOUT THE OUTFIT
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The team’s inspiration came directly from their charity shop find. As soon as they spotted the crinoline skirt, they knew it could be the foundation for a dramatic silhouette. Drawing on their love for dark and gothic aesthetics, Victorian gowns, and characters like Wednesday Addams and Lydia Deetz, they envisioned a layered, extravagant design filled with ruffles, bows, and lace trims, a modern gothic twist on indulgent Victorian fashion.
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Every element of the outfit was sourced second-hand or donated:
The purple layer of the skirt was made from a preloved bed sheet cover, altered to include an elasticated waistband and gathered back detail.
Black ruffles were added from a repurposed scarf.
The black overskirt was built from sheer fabric salvaged from a charity-shop dress, combined with gathers and bows made from curtain shop fabric samples and a preloved Halloween costume.
The purple top was donated by a team member’s mother, while the detachable sleeves were created by merging elements from two preloved tops.
Accessories like necklaces were found in local charity shops.
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Their found fabrics were largely synthetic: acrylic, polyester, nylon, and spandex, sourced from charity shops or donations.
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The team worked extensively with hand-sewing and fabric manipulation:
Sleeves were a favourite technique, combining translucent fabrics from different sources to make off-the-shoulder puffed sleeves secured with elastic.
Elasticated hems and carefully gathered details avoided unnecessary waste while giving volume and structure.
Layers and bows were thoughtfully placed to maximise impact while reusing as much fabric as possible.
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This outfit is a brilliant example of what happens when teamwork and creativity collide! Evelina, Adam, and Ola hunted down the perfect preloved fabrics from charity shops, donations, and leftover scraps, then skillfully pieced them together so it looks like it was made to be that outfit. Every detail, from the puffed sleeves to the layered ruffles, shows off their skill, imagination, and love for the project.
This video series was supported by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment's Reverse the Trend Campaign: Buy less. Rewear. Share. Because that’s what’s trending right now.