Classic or contemporary, which are you?

Irish designers redefining what it means to be an Irish woman in 2018

Since Dunnes Stores introduced their Paul Costelloe collaboration in the early 2000s and then appointed Carolyn Donnelly as creative director, I’ve been fascinated by what their designers – all Irish – are producing for the Irish woman. And the Irish man too of course; Costelloe has a men’s range which is quite classic, along with Paul Galvin’s edgier offering and Padraig Harrington’s golf look.

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Wearing your beliefs for social justice

Referendum inspiring designers to become fashion activists for this generation

Fashion activism is nothing new; the mini skirt was a defiant statement of its time, and the slogan t-shirt has been a political tool since its inception. Repeal sweatshirts are one of the most controversial items of the moment but they are not the only items popping up ahead of the upcoming referendum.

Stacey Grant-Canham, originally from Ballinacurra Gardens, completed a degree in fashion at LSAD before doing a MA at Kingston University in London. She now works as a lecturer teaching fashion design in Cardiff and in her spare time runs her design led lifestyle brand, Black & Beech.

Stacey explained, “During my maternity leave period in 2017, I started Black & Beech from my kitchen table selling teething jewellery that mums can wear and babies can fiddle and play with, whilst breastfeeding, being worn in a sling, or whenever baby needs a distraction. Following Brexit I became a bit more political with the brand and this was cemented with the re-election of the Torys and Donald Trump in the US. Continue reading

Ireland’s first international fashion design star

Hunt Museum presents innovative career of renowned Irish fashion designer

The Hunt Museum has curated a new exhibition from its collection of Sybil Connolly clothing, sketchbooks, swatches, glass and ceramics to explore her trailblazing design career in a new presentation entitled ‘Sybil’.

Connolly is regarded as Ireland’s first international fashion design icon. She used tweed, crochet and lace in vibrant colours and interesting silhouettes in her work with pleated linen her trademark. In 1953, her full-length red cape and white crochet dress was on the cover of Life Magazine, accompanied by the caption ‘Irish Invade Fashion World’.

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De-stress and take a moment…

Christmas is a stressful time, learning to manage daily stress is a priceless life skill

Mindfulness is something we hear a lot about it seems these days, but do many of us actually know what it means? Do we take mindful moments? Well, one Limerick lady has created a set of ‘flash cards for grown-ups’ to encourage us to do just that. MoMe cards are all about moments for me. They are created by Niamh McMahon, a well-known graphic designer based in Limerick.

“One invaluable lesson I have learned is that life is moving quickly and sometimes we all need to slow down. Recognizing the need to slow down is crucial. Learning how to is the hard part.” Niamh explains. Continue reading

Elizabeth Emery’s ‘Sugar Rush’ graduate collection

Having returned to college in her 30s, Limerick designer Elizabeth Emery from Lord Edward Street last month exhibited as part of the Limerick School of Art & Design Graduate Fashion Show.

Last year she interned with label Vivalelisa in Berlin with the college’s renowned internship programme as part of the fashion degree’s third year. Elizabeth, now ready for the next chapter in her fashion journey, told me about her graduate collection…

Elizabeth Emery graduate fashion collection

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Mitchell’s extraordinary knits – Caroline Mitchell knitwear designer

Caroline Mitchell knitwear designer is one of the finalists in the 2016 Irish Fashion Innovation Awards.

caroline mitchell knitwear

“I’m from Limerick and a fashion graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design. I fell into a job designing mens’ knitwear after college and got hooked. I started my own knitwear label in 1996 and, after several years of wholesaling to shops like Carraig Donn/Kilkenny Shop and independant boutiques, I decided to change it all and go more upmarket. Continue reading

Start a Glove Affair with Paula Rowan

Paula Rowan was already one of Ireland’s leading stockists of luxury leather goods when she turned her attention to design. For almost two decades she has devoted her career to the finer things in life, and it was Paula’s knowledge of fine leather, coupled with her background in design, that led her to ask herself that inevitable question – “Why not design my own range of leather gloves?”

paula-rowan

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Architecture graduate turned hat designer

Limerick’s Aisling Maher is making quite a name for herself in Irish millinery stakes. The 25 year old from Castleconnell is a graduate of architecture from UCD. Aisling graduated in the summer of 2009 and soon after, while planning a trip to the Galway Races, made her first headpiece for her own outfit.

aisling-maher

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