Ready for the clovers, Ireland enters the fashion field. The country is ready to organize its inaugural Ireland Fashion Week this fall, where local talent is presented on a national platform, for the first time in Irish fashion history. The event, which is planned from 6 to 10 October, is intended to show many facets of Irish fashion through a number of special events that are held during the five days.
In a post on Instagram, the organizers said that the event, which is said to have provided a million euros in support for Irish designers, will host 57 designers spread over seven shows and five events. Registrations for designers to participate in the event are open from 23 April.
Three of the shows have been labeled as “Flagship shows” and will show “Irish leading designers in breathtaking locations”. Two other shows, labeled as “spotlight shows”, will contain thematic showcases on sportswear, for which local brands in this category will exhibit their wares; And the local culture, this year touching the Irish pub culture that will be combined with streetwear.
Graduates, rising talent and leading designers on the program
A graduation show will also be held with the theme ‘The Irish Sea’. The event will offer a platform to 40 current and recently graduated designers who study both locally and internationally. Elsewhere, an extra catwalk dedicated to independent and rising Irish talent focus on the concept of ‘Irish Roots’, which will be central to collections of 10 selected designers. Extra events that take place during the week include a fashion exhibition, a community event and network dinners.
Ireland Fashion Week was founded by Ashley McDonnell, who is currently also working as a Global Consumer Acceleration Director for the Spanish multinational company Puig. Prior to this position, McDonnell held various positions with industrial giants such as LVMH, where she was a digital analyst, and Google, where she was Global Luxury Account Manager. In 2017 she founded Podcast and Educational Platform Tech Powered Luxury, which she runs to this day.
In a press release that was shared with FashionUnited, McDonnell said: “The idea of creating a rural Ireland Fashion Week came from the realization that Irish fashion designers missed both the platform and the financing to exhibit throughout the country. By creating an entity that is now in a position of events and experiences in the entire country and experiences bring world class to the island and to help brands with the financing of their shows, subsidizing selected designers and offering incredible extra support. “
The decision to launch Ireland Fashion Week comes at a time when many emerging fashion markets put their toes in similar events to support local talent. For Ireland, the step to the event room is appropriate in view of the growing reputation of the country for producing worldwide talent. Simone Rocha, Paul Costelloe, Róisín Pierce and Jonathan Anderson from Northern Ireland are just a few of those who influence the international fashion atmosphere in the present time, with much more ahead.
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