Another creative gem born and bred in Ireland, Úna Burke graduated Limerick School of Art & Design , moving on to do her MA at the infamous London College of Fashion.She gained her experience with stints at Philip Treacy, Burberry and Smythson. In 2009, it was her award-winning “RE.TREAT” accessories collection that put her on the fashion map with its handcrafted leather and sculpted shapes that distorted the human body.
Since then her “wearable art” has been featured in the editorial pages of magazines such as Vogue Italia, i-D, Dazed and Confused and Numero as well as acquired by celebrities such as Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera.
Featured in the Nars cosmetics beauty campaign, Úna Burke’s body corset was worn by the most appropriate of models, Daphne Guinness. A matriarch for the merging of art and fashion through various concepts and mediums, Guinness is perfect for these pieces.
Her spring/summer collection has a softer edge when compared to her previous work and features 14 military-inspired pieces including handbags, body accessories and cinch belts made using her signature construction technique. Leathers vary from structured cow hide to smooth calf skin and come in an earthy Mediterranean palette of berry, olive and rose petal pink.
A piece from her latest collection was worn by Kitty Brucknell on X Factor in the United Kingdom to an audience of millions.
Úna Burke 2011 spring/summer collection is now exclusively available at JOYCE.
Images courtesy of Una Burke, Nars Cosmetics, X Factor
