Irish Designer Mihai Mar Shares His Fashion Loves

Fresh from Dublin Independent Fashion Week, the founder of Mar Knitwear Mihai Mar discusses the future of Irish fashion and what his perfect Dublin day is …

It’s been a good few months for Mihai Mar, the founder of Irish knitwear brand Mar Knitwear. Not only was the designer’s presentation at Dublin Independent Fashion Week – which doubled as a life-drawing class – well received, his striking knits have found their way onto Netflix, having designed custom pieces for season two of the hit series Wednesday. The designer is focused on a clear brand mission: mixing thoughtful designs with textile manipulation, as well as an emphasis on individuality and identity. We caught up with him to find out about his love of fashion and what’s coming next.

Tell us about your new collection you just showed at Dublin Independent Fashion Week.

My latest collection Merits Over Mischief was inspired by a sense of boyish academia. Earlier this year, I visited Taiwan and travelled high into the Alishan mountains. While wandering through the mist, surrounded by ancient trees, I stumbled across a small primary school. It was such a striking image – this little school nestled in a beautifully haunting landscape. That moment sparked my imagination. I began to wonder about the kind of students who might attend that school. But rather than designing for the neat and tidy students at the front of class, I wanted to create uniforms for the misfits – the kids at the back who would rather be out catching frogs in the forest and getting into trouble. The collection blends classic school uniform silhouettes with playful details: paper plane-inspired collars, pencil buttons, and other mischievous touches.

How did you get your start in fashion?

I wasn’t the kind of kid who was obsessed with fashion, but I’ve always loved making things with my hands and telling stories: that’s a thread that’s run through my life and creative practice. Ultimately, I started my brand because I saw a gap. When I moved back to Ireland after living in Seoul, South Korea, I realised there were very few opportunities for textile practitioners here. Starting Mar Knitwear felt like the best way to merge my technical skills with my creativity.

Tell us about your personal style. If you had to sum it up in three words, what would they be? And what about your collections?

For my personal style, I would say relaxed video-game character. I gravitate toward muted forest tones and stylised silhouettes. I take a lot of inspiration from games like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. As for my collections, I’d describe them as relaxed yet structured, with a whimsical charm.

What is it about knits that always entices you?

There’s so much character in knitwear – that’s what drew me to it in the first place. I was introduced to knitting machinery in college and became fascinated by its endless possibilities. Being able to create bespoke fabrics essentially from thread is what excites me most. There’s also a playful, almost whimsical quality to knitting that I really admire.

The luxury fashion scene in Ireland is changing rapidly. What do you see as the biggest positive to this new frontier?

The most exciting development is Dublin Independent Fashion Week. It’s a designer-led event and community that’s been created by designers, for designers. What’s been truly heartwarming is how much we want the best for one another. We’re actively dismantling the stereotype of fashion being cold and competitive. The creativity, the collaborations, the mutual support – it’s all been incredibly inspiring. Some of my most exciting opportunities have come from being involved with DIFW. I’d encourage any aspiring designer to dive in.

What inspires your work? Is there anything that always pushes you to keep it fresh?

Travel is my biggest source of inspiration. Anything that disrupts my routine or removes me from familiar environments tends to fuel new ideas – I try to take at least one big trip a year for that reason. When it comes to keeping my work fresh, I’m deeply driven by textile manipulation. With every new collection, I challenge myself – whether it’s exploring new materials, techniques, or silhouettes. That constant experimentation keeps things exciting.

What is your perfect Dublin day?

A perfect day in Dublin starts with a slow morning in bed with my cat. I’d then head to Stay With Us in Phibsborough for an iced matcha and stop by Elliot’s for a pastry. After that, I’d wander around the Le Zeitgeist flea market, then make my way to the Botanic Gardens with a picnic blanket. I like to do some grounding exercises there – barefoot on the grass near the pond with the ducks. In the evening, I’d grab a hearty, cheap bite on Capel Street and end the day with a film at the Lighthouse Cinema with my partner.

How does sustainability factor into your work and life?

Designers are natural problem-solvers, and from the very beginning of my practice, sustainability has been at the core. We’re taught in college that the fashion industry is one of the biggest global polluters, and that it’s our responsibility to implement sustainable practices. With Mar Knitwear, I’ve kept production in-house, not just for creative control, but also as a sustainability measure. For my most recent collection, I worked exclusively with local materials – Donegal Yarns, in particular. It was important to me to honour heritage textiles, but with a playful, contemporary twist.

What accounts always inspire you creatively?

The @cheaphousesjapan account offers a look into countryside homes in Japan that are full of character.

Where do you see Irish fashion going in the future? What do we need to get better at? What are you looking forward to seeing flourish?

Irish fashion is on the cusp of something major – you can feel the ground shifting, especially after everything that came out of DIFW 2025. What we really need now is recognition. Fashion is still not classified under the Department of Arts, which blocks us from key funding and support. Personally, I’ve even been rejected from artist studios because what I do is seen as “commercial work.” We are artists. We deserve to be recognised as such.

What’s next for you?

I’m implementing new knitting machinery into my studio – shifting from hand-operated to automated systems. This is a big step, allowing me to push my craft further, creating more intricate, complex textiles and increasing production capacity. I’m also hoping to build relationships with local stockists, so this next phase is all about scaling while staying true to the craft.

Who is your favourite (non-Irish) designer working right now?

Some brands I really admire at the moment are Professor E, AjobyAjo, and Doublet.