THEN: In February 2014, Irish Country Living met award-winning designer, Susannagh Grogan. Originally from a beef and arable farm in Co Wexford, Susannagh launched her own label of silk scarves mid-recession, with a start-up budget of just €2,000, going on to be stocked in leading designer stores and being gifted to Hollywood stars including Michelle Williams.
In February 2014, Irish Country Living met award-winning designer, Susannagh Grogan.
NOW: Since appearing in Irish Country Living, Susannagh has had many highlights, from success Stateside to a royal commission.
The former was as a result of a collaboration with lifestyle brand, Anthropologie.
Originally from a beef and arable farm in Co Wexford, Susannagh launched her own label of silk scarves mid-recession with a start-up budget of just €2,000, going on to be stocked in leading designer stores and being gifted to Hollywood stars including Michelle Williams. \ Carol Dunne
“One of my scarves was their number one best-seller in America,” she explains, “I couldn’t believe it!”
This, she feels, helped secure her a commission to design a range of scarves for The Buckingham Palace label, sold on the Royal Collection Trust website and in the palace shops at Buckingham Palace itself, as well as Holyrood Palace and Windsor Castle.
“They literally sent me Buckingham Palace labels to sew on the scarves, which was amazing,” says Susannagh. “It was a really nice project.”
However, at the start of 2020, Susannagh made the decision to step away from producing two collections a year in favour of a more permanent range.
“Twice a year, I’d be working to a deadline to get the new collection in, and while I enjoyed it, I’ve been in business over 10 years and I just felt it didn’t fit in with the sustainability,” she says, explaining the reasoning behind her “Empowerment” collection of silk scarves, emblazoned with words such as “grá” (love) and “láidir” (strength).
The "Grá" scarf is part of Susannagh's new Empowerment collection.
Sustainability was also a factor in her decision to produce a range of masks once COVID-19 hit, using fabric that she had left over from her tunic collection. Having proved a sell-out success, she will add further designs at the end of this month that are “much more decorative and a bit more out there” for those who want to make a fashion statement while staying safe.
I’m very appreciate of the support that people have shown over the last few months. It’s kept people going and it’s kept me going
She will also be adding a few of her updated classic designs to her online shop, which she has been developing with the support of her local enterprise board.
While acknowledging that it is an uncertain time for many people in business, her plan is to “cautiously keep going”.
“I’m very appreciate of the support that people have shown over the last few months. It’s kept people going and it’s kept me going,” she says.
“But I just want to have enough to keep my customers happy, because that’s my number one priority.”
Read more
Designer Susannagh Grogan on fashion, success and farming roots
'You’re the girl from the Farmers Journal?'
THEN: In February 2014, Irish Country Living met award-winning designer, Susannagh Grogan. Originally from a beef and arable farm in Co Wexford, Susannagh launched her own label of silk scarves mid-recession, with a start-up budget of just €2,000, going on to be stocked in leading designer stores and being gifted to Hollywood stars including Michelle Williams.
In February 2014, Irish Country Living met award-winning designer, Susannagh Grogan.
NOW: Since appearing in Irish Country Living, Susannagh has had many highlights, from success Stateside to a royal commission.
The former was as a result of a collaboration with lifestyle brand, Anthropologie.
Originally from a beef and arable farm in Co Wexford, Susannagh launched her own label of silk scarves mid-recession with a start-up budget of just €2,000, going on to be stocked in leading designer stores and being gifted to Hollywood stars including Michelle Williams. \ Carol Dunne
“One of my scarves was their number one best-seller in America,” she explains, “I couldn’t believe it!”
This, she feels, helped secure her a commission to design a range of scarves for The Buckingham Palace label, sold on the Royal Collection Trust website and in the palace shops at Buckingham Palace itself, as well as Holyrood Palace and Windsor Castle.
“They literally sent me Buckingham Palace labels to sew on the scarves, which was amazing,” says Susannagh. “It was a really nice project.”
However, at the start of 2020, Susannagh made the decision to step away from producing two collections a year in favour of a more permanent range.
“Twice a year, I’d be working to a deadline to get the new collection in, and while I enjoyed it, I’ve been in business over 10 years and I just felt it didn’t fit in with the sustainability,” she says, explaining the reasoning behind her “Empowerment” collection of silk scarves, emblazoned with words such as “grá” (love) and “láidir” (strength).
The "Grá" scarf is part of Susannagh's new Empowerment collection.
Sustainability was also a factor in her decision to produce a range of masks once COVID-19 hit, using fabric that she had left over from her tunic collection. Having proved a sell-out success, she will add further designs at the end of this month that are “much more decorative and a bit more out there” for those who want to make a fashion statement while staying safe.
I’m very appreciate of the support that people have shown over the last few months. It’s kept people going and it’s kept me going
She will also be adding a few of her updated classic designs to her online shop, which she has been developing with the support of her local enterprise board.
While acknowledging that it is an uncertain time for many people in business, her plan is to “cautiously keep going”.
“I’m very appreciate of the support that people have shown over the last few months. It’s kept people going and it’s kept me going,” she says.
“But I just want to have enough to keep my customers happy, because that’s my number one priority.”
Read more
Designer Susannagh Grogan on fashion, success and farming roots
'You’re the girl from the Farmers Journal?'
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