Fresh from Dublin Independent Fashion Week, designer Tadhg James discusses inspiration, the future of homegrown design and the power of good denim …
One to watch, Tadhg James graduated from the National College of Art & Design (NCAD) in 2025 and has just returned from Paris, where they spent six months interning at Valliant Studio. Previously, they interned at Christian Wijnants in Antwerp. They made their debut at Éadach Ealaíne, a celebration of emerging Irish fashion, at Dublin Independent Fashion Week 2026, showing their first post-graduate collection. Although at the starting point of their career, James has a clear-cut vision for their designs. Elevated basics like denim and shirting take centre stage and sustainability is built into every part of the process. Read about James’ design journey below.
Tell us about your collection you showed at Dublin Independent Fashion Week (DIFW).
This collection is my first commercial post-graduate collection and it’s available on a made-to-order basis. It’s also my first time creating a menswear line as part of my practice. Additionally, it features a lot of denim.
Growing up, were you always obsessed with getting dressed?
I remember I loved colour-coordinating my clothes – a blue top with blue trousers, a red top with brown trousers, etc. But I never did care about dressing for an occasion; I still don’t.
Was there a particular item of clothing that turned you on to fashion/sparked your interest?
As cliched as it is, it was my maternal grandmother who really sparked an interest in fashion for me. I can remember going to the boutiques in our hometown with her as a child, she always knew the staff there. I loved seeing what she would wear. How she had clothes for gardening, clothes for dinner parties and her silk scarves.
Having graduated from the National College of Art & Design (NCAD) in 2025, Tadhg James made his Dublin Independent Fashion Week debut at Éadach Ealaíne, a celebration of emerging Irish fashion.
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?
Personal style: shirt, jeans, Nikes. The collection: cotton, wool, silver.
The luxury fashion scene in Ireland is changing rapidly. Where do you see Irish fashion going in the future?
I think we need to get better at looking beyond the internal. Often, we spend too much time speaking into a vacuum about Irish design. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing, but we need to be mindful that not many people outside of Ireland are looking in. At the end of the day, we are a small island nation with another island nation separating us from mainland Europe. For merchandisers, buyers and editors to discover us it requires a lot more effort than almost any other major European city.
Who or what inspires your work? Is there anything that always pushes you to keep it fresh?
Life. How we wear our clothes, why we wear our clothes. Plus, the guidelines and invisible boundaries we give ourselves.
What is your perfect Dublin day?
Coffee in Kaph on Drury Street, catch up with the divas in Om Diva, dinner in The Port House on South William Street, drinks in Love Tempo (RIP!), and a night out at Mother listening to Glamo.
How does sustainability factor into your work and life?
Sustainability is the main focus of my work. All of the pieces come with a focus on minimal cutting, zero waste, deadstock and repurposed materials. Everything that comes to me has a purpose.
What’s next for you?
I’m hoping to either pursue a masters in fashion design in the next academic year or to find a role at a sustainably-focused brand. I’m 24 and I still think I’ve so much to learn and experience.
James’ post-graduate collection explores themes of identity and self-expression through reimagined wardrobe basics such as denim and classic shirting.
Who is your favourite (non-Irish) designer working right now?
It can vary from season to season. But, over the last few years, Hodakova by Ellen Hodakova Larsson has been my one-to-watch.
Your collections focus on elevated basics such as denim. Why did you choose to hone in on this? What is the one basic item that you think is the most under-celebrated item in our wardrobes?
A good wardrobe is often a small one. I often think the best-dressed person in the room is the one who has found clothes that fit to their own measurements. The most under-celebrated piece, honestly, is a good shirt. There is a huge difference between a shirt from the high street and one from the likes of Louis Copeland. Good material and proper finishing make a huge difference to a more basic outfit; these clothes will last far longer. @tygjms
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