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No junk in the trunk with these fierce and focused fashionistas on a mission for credible and honest impact.

Small, medium or large - no matter your size, the objective is impact and the approach is honesty and commitment. Fashion Faux Pas undressed the truth behind one of globe's most polluting industries. The art of creating clothing has evolved into a massive machine furiously working to keep up with the rapid and relentless trend lifecycle. At Fashion Faux Pas (18th November 2025, Dublin), we showcased bold leaders attempting to regress back into a slower rhythm; one which doesn’t blindly honour the latest TikTok trends and glorify excessive consumption. Instead they thread impact intentionally with creativity, care and an appreciation for those constructing the garments. 


At our 12th Dublin event (wholly molly we've got to 12!), we delve into the complexities of what it means to be a sustainable producer and consumer, leaving the speakers and audiences with much to think about when they revisit their wardrobes. It couldn’t have come at a better time with Black Friday just around the corner and the Christmas shopping season swiftly approaching. It was a critical time to question what we need versus want, and lean into creativity and thoughtfulness when it comes to gift giving. 



Our Dublin Chapter lead, Jana Platau-Wagner flawlessly facilitated an evening of honest conversations, heartwarming stories and healthy debates. She welcomed a curious and rambunctious audience who were eager to get out of the cold and into a frank conversation about the clothes on our backs, and of course a nice and toasty tequila! 


The sustainability superstar that is Fionnuala Moran, talked us through everything from how she began her own sustainability journey to where to get the best pre-loved wedding dress (hint! It’s Cirq Bridal!) As a RTE 2 Broadcaster, DJ and Sustainability Influencer, Fionnuala wears many hats, but she hasn’t bought any since 2019! She discussed her commitment to not purchasing new clothing that she has loyally obliged for 6 years now. Not only can she talk the talk, but she can walk the walk! 


Moran then delved deeper into the incredible international impact of Junk Kouture, a global platform where students can compete in designing, creating and modelling pieces constructed from recycled items.


Chatting with CEO and Founder, Troy Armour proved to be a tear-jerker as he humbly spoke about how Junk Kouture has unleashed young people's creative brilliance and allowed them to find comfort and confidence in their designs and themselves. Over 100,000 teens have participated in this magical and memorable process, and we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming two of the incredible designers onto the Climate Cocktail stage! As AC/DC’s  “Thunderstruck” blasted over the loudspeakers, the crowd roared with excitement and awe! The Junk Kouture students, dressed like they were on the red carpet wearing only leftover scraps. The rock 'n' roll was a brief break from the tears, but once the girls shared their heartening stories, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! 


To keep with the Donegal theme, Fionnuala and the brilliant Rosy Temple, CEO of Magee Clothing, had a one-on-one about all things family business! Magee Clothing has been for over 150 years, with generations of family producing high-quality and sustainably sourced pieces that will last a lifetime. Rosy, showed her nerdy side a little when she quantified the economic-ends of environmentally conscious clothing practices, bringing us behind the scenes of the luxurious pieces we adore! She let us in on the ethical dilemmas family business, as well as all companies who are attempting to do best by people and the planet, face when it comes to sourcing quality materials and manufacturing high end products. Her honesty was so refreshing and her love for a wide selection of handwoven Donegal tweed was abundantly clear! 


For the last act of the night, Fionnuala rounded up a panel with a plethora of perspectives and knowledge on what sustainability really is, getting a little existential about supply and demand, needs and wants. Shane Finn (Founder & CEO of Outwest Clothing), Lynne Walker, Director (Primark Cares), Shannen Healy (creator of online social platform @_greengal), and Tracey Ryan (Co-Founder & Head of R&D at Doctrine Skincare) panned out to be a passionate bunch! 



Shane Finn, travelling up from Dingle to Dublin was clear on his intentions: he wanted to make clothes who do their job. As an outdoors enthusiast and athlete, he spoke of the importance of pieces that have longevity - clothing that won’t break the bank or damage the planet because it is deliberately designed for someone to wear over and over and over again, even in the chaotic Kerry mountains. 


Lynne Walker, representing one of the most familiar brands around the world explained how shifting strategies can make a massive difference when adjustments are made at such a colossal scale. Lynne explained how herself and her team are attempting to find a balance between ethically sourced clothing and affordable prices, while focusing on meeting carbon emissions reduction targets by 2030. 


Shannen Healy, who has found solace and stardom in voicing the concerns many of us have about the clothing hanging on the racks at big name stores. As a host on “The Green Room” on Dublin City FM, Shannen is undeniably dedicated to keeping the conversation around climate change alive. Shannen emphasised the power of noticing and speaking up about these everyday issues; how it is so critical in integrating the common psyche and catalysing transformative change. 


Tracey Ryan, with the quote of the night, “a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing” gave us some incredible insight into the realities of sustainable production and a very simplified chemistry lesson! Tracey also simply summarised a recurring theme of the night, that sustainability can be a luxury, and if we are willing to discuss the topic as a whole we have to address the economics of it head on. 


Having all of these varying perspectives at the table is vital to seeing the gigantic picture that is the fashion and cosmetics industry. Creating comprehensive change cannot be an exclusive journey, we must welcome difficult dialogues if we want to make progress. The discussion flowed seamlessly from the controversial capitalistic marketing of skin routines for toddlers, to the potential link between polyester and perspiration?, to the ethics of local and global manufacturing and production, and everything in between! 



The moral of the story is that nobody is the perfect environmentalist. We all need clothes on our backs and will continue to need clothes on our backs for the foreseeable future, so we can’t just boycott the problem all together! What we can do is try our best to consume more consciously, consider the social and ecological impacts of items we may not even really need. 


BIG BIG BIG THANKS.....

to all who made the night so magical and to our wonderful partners who allow us to keep clubbing! These events would not be possible without your sponsorship and support. 



The Climate Cocktail Club operates on a voluntary basis and needs the support of partners to ensure the events are a success - please support our future events and become a sponsor.


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