In this monthly series, we meet Ireland’s leading CEOs to learn how they got to where they are today …
After spending her twenties working in Christie’s auction house in London in the UK, Rosy Temple felt an “almost ancestral draw” to come home to become CEO of the family business, along with her sister Charlotte, who is creative director, and her brother Patrick, who manages the mill. Her father Lynn is chairman and a “guiding force to the next generation” for the heritage Irish fashion brand.
Magee was founded on handwoven tweed over 150 years ago when John Magee first established a small drapers shop in Donegal. In 1900, Robert Temple – John Magee’s cousin and apprentice – bought the business and, today, the third and fourth generations of the Temple family are still at the helm.
The now fifth-generation Irish family business has a weaving mill on the banks of the River Eske in Donegal Town, offering womenswear, menswear and homeware collections online, and instore in Donegal and Dublin. Employing over 108 people, the business has a turnover of c €14m. The mill exports fabric to luxury fashion labels in Europe, the US and Japan, while their fastest growing channel is e-commerce with Irish, UK and US markets at the forefront.
The customer split is interesting with Ireland at 35 per cent, the UK at 30 per cent and the US at 20 per cent.
Dealing With Challenges
Asked about how they deal with competitiveness and multiple challenges facing the sector, Rosy explained: “Covid-19, Brexit and the uncertainty around tariffs are external forces that drive change in business practices for us. The rising costs of doing business in Ireland is challenging and puts a strain on competitiveness, with our customers here and abroad.”
In tandem, the business has found the reputation of ‘legacy’ both a help and a hindrance. While they are proud of their heritage and name, sometimes they are still known as ‘purveyors of men’s suiting’. The challenge is to stay true to their roots, while evolving the brand to stay relevant. On the design front, their textiles remain a focus, while they’re developing more lifestyle looks across menswear and womenswear. Rosy is just back from Milan where they have been busy planning their Spring-Summer ’26 collection. From what was traditionally a men’s brand, Rosy said: “In the last couple of seasons, our women’s collection has started to find its way with bolder fabrics and oversized, unstructured outerwear and more casual pieces.”
Rosy is not fazed by these challenges: she is optimistic, ambitious and proactive, focused on developing Magee’s renown across all markets.
Stores Or Online?
When it comes to this ongoing debate for Irish businesses, Rosy is clear: “There’s a perception around the challenges of ‘bricks and mortar’ retail being at odds with e-commerce. I think this narrative can be revisited as there’s place for both to grow and complement each other. For us, it’s about delivering an engaging experience, flexibility for the customer and increasing our reach. As a brand, that means putting a big emphasis on creating a warm welcome, a knowledgeable team and, crucially, designing collections that you want to treasure and enjoy. It also means developing an omni-channel landscape that allows for a seamless instore to online experience. We’re already seeing a massive change with technology, particularly VR and AI, which is only going to increase. So, it’s about harnessing that without losing the human touch.”
Sustainable Business
What about the prescient issue of sustainability, with the rise of ‘fast’ versus ‘slow’ fashion? Again, Rosy is steadfast in her beliefs: “It’s quite a complex dynamic right now. On one hand, there’s a positive and increasing focus around buying better, buying less and supporting quality. In parallel, there are some international websites with very cheap, imitation products produced in high volumes that devalue the work involved in designing and making something with integrity.”
She believes sustainability and doing business better is critical for the fashion industry, but admits that it’s a complicated issue. “At Magee 1866, we have a good foundation with natural fibre fabrics and a tight supply chain, but we still need to invest in decarbonisation, alongside handling those rising costs and investing in planning for growth. This can be quite a juggling act on the cashflow front. It’s a journey for us.”
Living The Dream
Rosy is delighted to be home in Donegal and part of an iconic family business, but she takes nothing for granted. Balancing her business, family and social life is part of the challenge, she says. “When it comes to adversity, I try to be diplomatic and stay as dispassionate as possible, which is sometimes easier said than done! I also have a very supportive family who are there for me, always.”
It’s clear that she enjoys life, “with great friends for some wild adventures, be it swimming, cycling or partying”. Living by the sea, she says: “There’s solace in solitude too. If I’m feeling under pressure, I’m a fan of a ‘micro adventure’. I will take a tent, stove, sketchbook and book, leave the phone at the bottom of the rucksack, then head for the mountains. It’s amazing – 24 hours out in the elements is restorative for the soul. Even if it rains or you get eaten alive by midges, you come back sleep deprived with a fresh perspective, ready to rock”.
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