Confident use of colour, bold and beautiful knitwear, vibrant prints and sustainable principals were just some of the themes at the autumn winter 2022 showcase organised by the Council of Irish Fashion Designers (CIFD).
CIFD- which has 55 members across the fashion, accessories, millinery, jewellery and childrenswear categories- was established to support Irish fashion and design business through advocacy, education, collaboration and creative promotion.
For instance, it is currently working with Irish social enterprise brand, We Make Good, to produce clothes using local and ethical manufacturing services at its Dublin-based studio, while also providing people from marginalised backgrounds with skills training and employment.
In addition, CIFD members have signed up to a sustainability charter with commitments including producing limited production ?runs or made-to-order collections to reduce waste?; offering trans-seasonal, co-ordinated collections?; using upcycled, recycled and biodegradable materials where quality can be assured?; and employing local production facilities where possible.
The collections are as far from fast fashion as you can imagine, which means that many are on the higher-end of the price scale. But with a swing towards “buying less, but buying better”, fashion lovers might spy that one investment piece to add to their wardrobe, or simply take style inspiration for the season ahead when shopping locally or re-working their existing clothes, with themes highlighted by the CIFD including:
A confident use of colour for day and after dark.
Bold choice across luxurious knitwear collections.
Combinations of black and white, especially for evening and party wear, offered in graphic blocks or dot effects.
Muted shades like chocolate, pale blue, blush and moss to work as trans-seasonal wardrobe staples.
An explosion of prints.
Ailish McElroy mustard headpiece draped in faux leather and featuring handmade camellias, hand curled quills and veiling €425
1. Ailish McElroy
Mustard headpiece draped in faux leather and featuring handmade camellias, hand curled quills and veiling €425. The former graphic designer uses contrast and colour to push creative boundaries.
We say: Have a special event coming up? A well-placed accessory can give an outfit that you have worn previously a new lease of life.
FéRí by Faye Rochford ‘Eva’ printed dress in organic orange crepe lined with organic cotton €379 over ‘Rachel’ midi skirt in organic crepe €259.
2. FéRí by Faye Rochford “Eva”
A printed dress in organic orange crepe lined with organic cotton €379 over “Rachel” midi skirt in organic crepe €259. Designed in Wexford, prints are hand-painted and digitally printed on to natural organic fabrics or reclaimed textiles, and manufactured in small quantities in Ireland and at a Sedex-approved (ethical) factory in India.
We say: Florals are not just for summer, while we love this burnt orange for autumn.
Eadach by Sara O'Neill ‘Children of Lir Night Sky’ silk dress with leather belt €535.
3. Éadach by Sara O’Neill
“Children of Lir Night Sky” silk dress with leather belt €535. Inspired by Irish myths and legends, the Éadach collection is a range of limited edition prints produced on silk.
We say: If you do not want to dress head to toe in silk, a printed scarf can serve you well throughout the season.
Charlotte Lucas one shoulder black crepe gown with contrasting silk bow €1,500.
4. Charlotte Lucas
One shoulder black crepe gown with contrasting silk bow €1,500. Having worked with international designer Diane von Furstenberg in London and Paris, Charlotte returned to Ireland to start her own label inspired by the romance of the bygone era.
We say: OK, so this is a blow-the-budget piece; but we can still swoon, right?
5. Caroline Duffy
“Abundance” woven shawl/blanket in 70% recycled cotton blend €220. Caroline launched her fashion label in 2021 to complement her original ?paintings and prints.
We say: With the rise in popularity of outdoor dining, a shawl can be your hardest working accessory this autumn/winter
6. Cobbler’s Lane
“Midnight”
Poly viscose mini dress with sheer dotted sleeves €295. The collection is inspired by the boho styles of the 60s and 70s to be loved, worn and ultimately, passed on.
We say: Black and white does not have to be boring, while this silhouette will take you from day to night.
7. Magpie Rose
Green and yellow cocktail earrings €120, yellow pendant €70 and green and blue bangles €90. Designed and made in Clontarf by Diane Woods, the collection uses semi-precious gemstones combined with sterling silver, gold filled plating and gold vermeil.
We say: They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but semi-precious gemstones can create a colourful, contemporary look.
8. Ciara Allen Designs
Belted Irish tweed coat with contrast panelling €400. All pieces in this unisex collection are made-to-order for a zero waste approach.
We say: Irish tweed is timeless. Have you a vintage coat or jacket at the back of the wardrobe that could be resurrected for the season ahead? You can change it up by adding a brooch to the lapel or a belt for structure.
9. Laura Chambers
Black and white striped cashmere sweater €460, flash green honeycomb stitch long tube cashmere skirt €370 and flash green honeycomb stitch cashmere scarf €185.
The collection is loomed in Dublin using high-quality Italian and Scottish cashmere.
We say: The splash of vibrant green really raises the bar on this classic monochrome top; a colour combination that can be re-created very simply at home.
10. Nicki Hoyne
Red belt bag €230, created to cherish, products are made in Spain by certified manufacturers, with materials sourced close to the factory, leather off-cuts used to make small accessories like coin purses and linings sewn from recycled cotton.
We say: There is nothing like a vibrant accessory to lift a classic black top or dress; we also love how this bag can be worn in different ways.
11. Urban Aran
Moss green and fuchsia superfine merino hooded long cardigan €385, cable knit vest in moss green €95, oversized wrap in mint and moss green €185.
The luxury, ready-to-wear knitwear brand was established in 2017 by Waterford native Christine Murphy and is influenced by urban art in all its forms.
We say: A colourful, statement longline cardigan can really elevate your favourite pair of leggings or jeans while keeping you cosy this autumn/winter.
You can watch the fashion show
athttps://irishfashiondesigners.com but here are just some examples of the
looks showcased.
Confident use of colour, bold and beautiful knitwear, vibrant prints and sustainable principals were just some of the themes at the autumn winter 2022 showcase organised by the Council of Irish Fashion Designers (CIFD).
CIFD- which has 55 members across the fashion, accessories, millinery, jewellery and childrenswear categories- was established to support Irish fashion and design business through advocacy, education, collaboration and creative promotion.
For instance, it is currently working with Irish social enterprise brand, We Make Good, to produce clothes using local and ethical manufacturing services at its Dublin-based studio, while also providing people from marginalised backgrounds with skills training and employment.
In addition, CIFD members have signed up to a sustainability charter with commitments including producing limited production ?runs or made-to-order collections to reduce waste?; offering trans-seasonal, co-ordinated collections?; using upcycled, recycled and biodegradable materials where quality can be assured?; and employing local production facilities where possible.
The collections are as far from fast fashion as you can imagine, which means that many are on the higher-end of the price scale. But with a swing towards “buying less, but buying better”, fashion lovers might spy that one investment piece to add to their wardrobe, or simply take style inspiration for the season ahead when shopping locally or re-working their existing clothes, with themes highlighted by the CIFD including:
A confident use of colour for day and after dark.
Bold choice across luxurious knitwear collections.
Combinations of black and white, especially for evening and party wear, offered in graphic blocks or dot effects.
Muted shades like chocolate, pale blue, blush and moss to work as trans-seasonal wardrobe staples.
An explosion of prints.
Ailish McElroy mustard headpiece draped in faux leather and featuring handmade camellias, hand curled quills and veiling €425
1. Ailish McElroy
Mustard headpiece draped in faux leather and featuring handmade camellias, hand curled quills and veiling €425. The former graphic designer uses contrast and colour to push creative boundaries.
We say: Have a special event coming up? A well-placed accessory can give an outfit that you have worn previously a new lease of life.
FéRí by Faye Rochford ‘Eva’ printed dress in organic orange crepe lined with organic cotton €379 over ‘Rachel’ midi skirt in organic crepe €259.
2. FéRí by Faye Rochford “Eva”
A printed dress in organic orange crepe lined with organic cotton €379 over “Rachel” midi skirt in organic crepe €259. Designed in Wexford, prints are hand-painted and digitally printed on to natural organic fabrics or reclaimed textiles, and manufactured in small quantities in Ireland and at a Sedex-approved (ethical) factory in India.
We say: Florals are not just for summer, while we love this burnt orange for autumn.
Eadach by Sara O'Neill ‘Children of Lir Night Sky’ silk dress with leather belt €535.
3. Éadach by Sara O’Neill
“Children of Lir Night Sky” silk dress with leather belt €535. Inspired by Irish myths and legends, the Éadach collection is a range of limited edition prints produced on silk.
We say: If you do not want to dress head to toe in silk, a printed scarf can serve you well throughout the season.
Charlotte Lucas one shoulder black crepe gown with contrasting silk bow €1,500.
4. Charlotte Lucas
One shoulder black crepe gown with contrasting silk bow €1,500. Having worked with international designer Diane von Furstenberg in London and Paris, Charlotte returned to Ireland to start her own label inspired by the romance of the bygone era.
We say: OK, so this is a blow-the-budget piece; but we can still swoon, right?
5. Caroline Duffy
“Abundance” woven shawl/blanket in 70% recycled cotton blend €220. Caroline launched her fashion label in 2021 to complement her original ?paintings and prints.
We say: With the rise in popularity of outdoor dining, a shawl can be your hardest working accessory this autumn/winter
6. Cobbler’s Lane
“Midnight”
Poly viscose mini dress with sheer dotted sleeves €295. The collection is inspired by the boho styles of the 60s and 70s to be loved, worn and ultimately, passed on.
We say: Black and white does not have to be boring, while this silhouette will take you from day to night.
7. Magpie Rose
Green and yellow cocktail earrings €120, yellow pendant €70 and green and blue bangles €90. Designed and made in Clontarf by Diane Woods, the collection uses semi-precious gemstones combined with sterling silver, gold filled plating and gold vermeil.
We say: They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but semi-precious gemstones can create a colourful, contemporary look.
8. Ciara Allen Designs
Belted Irish tweed coat with contrast panelling €400. All pieces in this unisex collection are made-to-order for a zero waste approach.
We say: Irish tweed is timeless. Have you a vintage coat or jacket at the back of the wardrobe that could be resurrected for the season ahead? You can change it up by adding a brooch to the lapel or a belt for structure.
9. Laura Chambers
Black and white striped cashmere sweater €460, flash green honeycomb stitch long tube cashmere skirt €370 and flash green honeycomb stitch cashmere scarf €185.
The collection is loomed in Dublin using high-quality Italian and Scottish cashmere.
We say: The splash of vibrant green really raises the bar on this classic monochrome top; a colour combination that can be re-created very simply at home.
10. Nicki Hoyne
Red belt bag €230, created to cherish, products are made in Spain by certified manufacturers, with materials sourced close to the factory, leather off-cuts used to make small accessories like coin purses and linings sewn from recycled cotton.
We say: There is nothing like a vibrant accessory to lift a classic black top or dress; we also love how this bag can be worn in different ways.
11. Urban Aran
Moss green and fuchsia superfine merino hooded long cardigan €385, cable knit vest in moss green €95, oversized wrap in mint and moss green €185.
The luxury, ready-to-wear knitwear brand was established in 2017 by Waterford native Christine Murphy and is influenced by urban art in all its forms.
We say: A colourful, statement longline cardigan can really elevate your favourite pair of leggings or jeans while keeping you cosy this autumn/winter.
You can watch the fashion show
athttps://irishfashiondesigners.com but here are just some examples of the
looks showcased.
This is a subscriber-only article
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