Irish Born or Irish bred, these designers are showing the variety of amazing talent that we have to offer. With a cross-section of iconic Irish designers to upcoming talent hailing from fashion colleges like LSAD and NCAD, genuine talent sails from these shores.
From Irish designers to Irish brands, we are showing at many of the major international fashion weeks including New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, below offers a sneak preview of Spring Summer 2012
NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
Dean Quinn
Spring Summer 2012 was his debut season at New York Fashion Week. The fashion scene welcomes Irish-born Central Saint Martins graduate, Dean Quinn. Dean Quinn cut his teeth in the fashion industry spending a summer under Zandra Rhodes in London. He then returned to London, to attend the acclaimed Central Saint Martins. After he graduated, winning the award as women’s-wear designer of the year in 2009, he moved to Milan to work as a designer for Donatella Versace. Quinn is definitely one to watch.
Daryl K
Daryl K needs no introduction. She has been the reigning queen of downtown cool in New York for the last 20 years, this year marking the brands 20th anniversary! Irish-born Daryl K knows what her customers love. And they come back to her Bond Street store season after season to update their collections and what a better way to show the love for her as a designer. Daryl K sent striking bold colour pieces down the runway, on which she collaborated with painter, Spencer Sweeney.
EDUN
Edun impressed at New York Fashion Week showing sustainability can be fashionable. With Bono & Ali Hewson’s passion to better the trade in developing countries, they have done so with luxury fashion. Edun’s designer, Irish – born, Sharon Wauchob – who is in her third season with Edun, mixed print and texture, sending native African prints, with a hint of tribal and a splash of floral down the runway. The pieces were relaxed, feminine with an air of Marant about them.
LONDON FASHION WEEK
J.W Anderson
A London College of Fashion graduate, Anderson first showed at London Fashion Week in 2007. Inspired by geometry, modern youth culture and a sense of freedom, his latest collection sees sharp tailoring and feminine fits enhanced with Swarovski Elements and paisley prints.
Paul Costelloe
Paul Costelloe opened London Fashion Week this year with a collection inspired by Bette Davis’ film What happened to Baby Jane? Set with a romantic and innocent feel amongst a neutral soft palette, the latest collection stresses Parisian silhouettes, Edwardian traditionalism with a hint of new romanticism, which featured subtly through the mens collection aswell.
Joanne Hynes
Galway-Girl, Joanne Hynes’ Spring Summer 2012 was reminiscent of the swinging 60’s with a selection of all things shiney. From sequins, appliques and pop art, Hynes’ collection was playful, quirky and fresh for her. Her play on random shapes, textures and prints included everything from lips, leather and a cheeky bit of pvc. This collection is definitely for the fun-loving girls who don’t take themselves to seriously.
John Rocha
Hong Kong Born, Irish based designer John Rocha’s Spring Summer 2012 collection oozed with texture and handicrafts that highlighted traditional craftsmanship, for which he is know best. The inspiration for his collection ranged from diverse sources as mythical warriors, fishing on the Amazon, back-lit paintings of Pierre Soulages and the languid tones of Hank Williams. His classic choice of black and muted tones let the silhouettes and intricacy of the textures stand alone.
Simone Rocha
Simone Rocha continues to distinguish herself as one to watch. Showing her first stand alone fashion show, she mixed delicate lace with fluro meshes, perspex with patent, whilst focusing on strong tailoring, channeled at the modern woman who dares. Her use of hard versus soft, playing with texture is reminiscent of London Fashion Week Veteran and Dad, John Rocha, Simone delivers clean, crisp designs mixing density and delicacy that makes her pieces so intriguing.
Stephanie Grace Foy
London-based Irish designer Stephanie Grace Foy graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design, Ireland in 2007 to critical acclaim and was quoted as “One To Watch’ by The Irish Times. In September 2010 under Kingston University, where she did her MA in Women’s Wear Fashion Design, Stephanie’s collection was chosen to show at Vauxhall Fashion during London Fashion Week. It was here that Stephanie Grace Foy the label was born.
Her Spring Summer 2012 collection, ‘Longitude/Latitude’ shows her second season at Vauxhall Fashion Scout for SS12. This theme investigates the relationship of pattern development and the natural body shape. In the research stages, Stephanie examines the relationships to be found between the linear axis of longitude and latitude and the curves of the human form.
PARIS FASHION WEEK
Sharon Wauchob
Irish Born – Paris based designer, Sharon Wauchob uses lace and organzas, making it a clear trend for S/S 2012. Wauchob, who has a long-standing love affair with lace, used it to the max this season in a collection centered on lingerie-inspired pieces.
The designer opened with a series of white matte and iridescent silk shirtdresses, tops, with pieces giving a nod to the Twenties trend spotted at previous shows. Her pieces are flirty, feminine but show she still likes the challenge of the unconventional twist.
Images courtesy of designers & comments and opinions are that of Classic with Colour
