Everything you need to know about the best Irish fashion designers, boutiques and shopkeepers, and where to find them locally…
Whether you are looking for a contemporary take on a traditional knit jumper, modern designs in heritage fabrics or simply want to reduce your carbon footprint by supporting local brands, Irish fashion has come on a long way in the last few years with the collections from both established brands and new designers continuing to evolve and offer stylish options for the modern Irish woman.
We’ve rounded up all the Irish fashion brands you need to know about, along with where to find them both in person and online. @theglossmag
Colin Burke.
Irish Knitwear
You can’t beat a cosy knit sweater, and considering the Irish weather, they are most definitely a year-round wardrobe staple. While most ready-to-wear fashion collections are now being produced overseas, Irish knitwear designers continue to create their pieces on home soil. The Aran sweater had a resurgence a few seasons ago, with everyone from Gucci to Celine sending their own high fashion version down the runway. But it’s the new wave of Irish knitwear brands that have really captured our attention with their use of colour and weaving techniques that have breathed new life into this traditional garment. Here’s a rundown of our favourite Irish Knitwear Designers worth investing in.
Handmade in the west of Ireland, Colin Burke’s designs are heavily influenced by his love of architecture and achieve the fashion miracle of managing to look incredibly stylish yet still feel comfortable. His impeccable attention to detail from intricate stitching techniques to luxury yarns, result in sculptural creations that simultaneously represent heritage and craft with modern design.
Ros Duke’s luxurious cashmere pieces are made to last a lifetime. Using the finest yarn from Loro Piana, her knitwear is mostly made in Dublin in small batches with a few selected styles being produced by artisans in Europe and Nepal. Her designs are timeless, forgoing trends and instead focusing on expertly-made classical pieces that can be worn over and over again.
Not only is every piece from the The Tweed Project custom-made, they are also all handcrafted in their atelier in Galway. If you are looking for truly unique Irish clothing, designers Triona and Aoibheann combine carefully selected fabrics such Donegal Tweed and Irish Linen to create modern tailoring with a relaxed feel.
With over ten years of fashion experience in New York, London and Paris, Faye Dinsmore returned to her roots when launching her namesake label. Based in Donegal, she fuses traditional craftsmanship with feminine design to result in gorgeous knits that look just as good teamed with a pair of jeans as they do over a floaty dress.
Hope McAuley’s rainbow knits have been spotted on the likes of Gigi Hadid, Rosalia and Halsey, but despite her international recognition all her dreamy pieces are still made by a team of 20 local knitters based across Northern Ireland. Her signature chunky cardigans and sweaters are made using luxury merino wool and vegan biodegradable nylon and are the perfect choice to brighten up any outfit on a dull winter day.
IrelandsEye Knitwear.
Designed and made in North Dublin, IrelandsEye Knitwear has options for both men and women, covering every category from jumpers, cardigans, loungewear, hats and scarves. Their classic knit staples come in an array of colours in a mix of wool, cotton, cashmere and silk yarns.
Stocked in luxury boutiques worldwide, menswear brand Inis Meain’s garments are renowned for their craftsmanship and quality. Founded in 1976 by Tarlach de Blácam and Áine Ní Chonghaile and inspired by the rugged beauty of the Aran Islands, they continue to produce all of their pieces there.
Indepdent brand Stable of Ireland (which has a must-visit boutique in the Westbury Mall, Dublin 2) makes beautiful Aran knit jumpers from Donegal yarn which is woolen-spun, woven and made by local artisans in Donegal. Also look out for their traditional Irish Crios belts.
Irish Tweed
For centuries, Irish tweed has been the go-to for designers creating outerwear worldwide – and here in Ireland, there are so many brands utilising this incredible fabric in ultra modern ways. Just look to The Landskein, a brand that rose to fame for its modern, minimalist coats and jackets. This has to be one of the most covetable brands in Irish fashion right now. Heritage brand Magee 1866 has long been known for its classic coats made from Donegal tweed, and this season we love the Emma coat. And for spring we are looking to Avoca Handweavers for its hot-off-the-loom Irish herringbone tweed coat in the springiest shade of pea green.
Another example is Dubliner Jack Murphy’s eponymous label, founded in the 1940s. Murphy’s son Michael and granddaughter Sarah are now at the helm of the family business. The company, formerly known for robust outerwear, presents a collection of classic clothing in Irish tweed for men and women. www.jackmurphy.ie.
Irish Fashion Designers
Jonathan Anderson, Sharon Wauchob and Simone Rocha (who most recently made her couture debut in collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier), have all been on the official calendar at fashion weeks in both London and Paris for years. With each presenting collections that continue to be acclaimed by both the fashion press and public. A new wave of Irish designers have also begun to make a name for themselves in the fashion capitals. Richard Malone won both the prestigious International Woolmark Prize and the Golden Fleece Award for his creative mix of tailored pieces and knitwear. Roisin Pierce’s sculptural collections which explore Irish women’s history have seen her awarded with the Prix du Public and the Chanel Metiers d’Art at the Hyères International Festival and most recently be selected as a finalist at the LVMH prize. Alexa Chung also chose one of her dresses for the Met Gala. We are looking forward to seeing how both Malone and Pierce’s careers evolve.
Check Out The Full List of Our Favourite Shops in Ireland HERE.
Where To Shop In Ireland
We all know the convenience of online shopping but nothing can beat the in-store experience of seeing a product in person. Whether it’s the eye-catching window displays of Brown Thomas that draw you in, the thought of a browse around Avoca followed by tea and sweet treats with friends or a wander in a quirky independent boutique in the hope of discovering a one-off piece to cherish – Irish shopping has an option for every taste…
The only place to go when looking to find the best in luxury and contemporary fashion, Brown Thomas is where you will find international designers mixed with the best of Irish fashion. Beauty and bags take over the ground floor – where you can pick up your favourite Armani makeup or invest in an Hermes or Chanel handbag. On the first floor, Versace blazers and Erdem gowns sit beside Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe’s distressed knits, Louise Kennedy suits and Christian Dior’s elegant dresses. When it comes to shoes you have established designers like Christian Louboutin mixed with trending emerging brands such as Mach & Mach. Go one floor up to discover everyday elevated staples from Joseph amongst party dresses from The Attico and Rotate.
With 13 locations across the country, no visit to Avoca is complete without picking up a coffee and one of their homemade delicious cakes. If you favour natural beauty brands, colourful contemporary clothing mixed in with cosy homeware accessories such as wool blankets and aromatic candles – you’ll be spoilt for choice here. Avoca stores manage to retain the charm of a traditional local store while also stocking a variety of products from kids toys, coffee table books, ceramics and more.
Nikki Creedon.
Opened almost 30 years ago, owner Nikki Creedon’s Havana boutique in Donnybrook stocks a unique combination of avant-garde designers like Rick Owens and Comme des Garcons with the modern femininity of brands such as Simone Rocha, Emilia Wickstead and Cecilie Bahnsen.
