Some of the people who have helped bring the Irish fashion industry to life. Selected by Deirdre McQuillan.
TERESA GALLAGHER Head of ladieswear, Dunnes Stores
Gallagher is in charge of a 30-strong buying team and a multimillion-euro annual budget. She has been with the company for 30 years. Dunnes Stores is the country's largest retailer, with 143 stores in Ireland and the UK and five in Spain. Last year it created 2,000 new jobs, opened 15 new shops and in November launched its first dedicated home store in South Great Georges Street, Dublin - DunnesHome - and launched an association with Paul Costelloe. Employs 20,000 people. There are plans for more new stores in 2006.
JOHN REDMOND Creative director, Brown Thomas
Joined the company 22 years ago and works with the buying directors, marketing, store design and visual teams, winning numerous awards. Established in 1849, Brown Thomas is a landmark destination in Ireland for luxury retailing. It has just completed a major revamp of its Designer and Shoe Rooms, and further developments include a new menswear department opening in early March in Dublin.
EDDIE SHANAHAN Former director of merchandising and marketing at Arnotts
Shanahan has been involved with the fashion industry since the 1970s when he worked with the International Wool Secretariat. He ran his own model agency and production company for 15 years. He is now a freelance management and fashion consultant for design and retail businesses with a portfolio of high-profile clients.
NIKKI CREEDON Owner, Havana boutique
Creedon is an experienced and innovative buyer who began her career with Paul Costelloe in the 1980s. In 1983 she was a founder member of the Design Centre, which began in St Stephen's Green before moving to the Powerscourt Centre in Dublin. Left in 1994 to set up her own boutique, Havana, in Donnybrook. Introduced Yohji Yamamoto, Ann Valerie Hash, Comme des Garçons and other avant-garde labels to Irish customers.
ANN HUGHES HARRISON General manager of Carraig Donn
Harrison, from Scariff, Co Clare, is general manager of Carraig Donn, one of Ireland's largest family fashion and gift retailers and manufacturers. The Hughes family's company has 20 stores around Ireland and employs more than 200 people. Expansion plans include the restoration of a Georgian building in Ennis (to be completed at the end of March) which will be its flagship store.
LYNDA HEATHER Ex-London College of Fashion and now managing director of Michael H
Michael H is Ireland's largest ladies wear company specialising in the design, manufacture and marketing of branded collections. Michael H has been the recipient of numerous awards including Drapers' Record Award for Brand of the Year for its "Gold" collection in 1998 and in 2005, against major European competition. Established by Lynda's father, Michael, in 1977, it is a family-owned company with showrooms in Dublin, Belfast, London and throughout the UK. It has doubled in size in the past five years.
ANNIE GRIBBIN Make Up Forever
Gribben studied make-up in Paris and became the fifth distributor of Make Up Forever when she opened her first retail store in the Westbury Mall in 1989. She moved to Clarendon Street in 1993 and three years later created her own make-up range called Face 2. This is now stocked in Roches Stores and pharmacies and beauty salons nationwide. Won ISME's Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997, and last year turned over more than €1.5 million. Has worked with stars including Robbie Williams, U2, Oliver Stone, Alicia Silverstone and Emmylou Harris.
LYNN TEMPLE Chairman, Magee Group of Donegal
The Donegal company, famous internationally for its tweeds, is 140 years old this year. It first put its fabrics on the fashion map in the 1950s with Sybil Connolly, and now weaves all types of wool including cashmere and alpaca, along with linens and silks. Supplies global companies such as Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Aquascutum, MaxMara, Tommy Hilfiger, Canali, Etro and others. Has its own shops and Magee menswear brand and also makes suits to measure.
SONIA REYNOLDS
Former model turned events promoter Reynolds was responsible for the first Brown Thomas Supermodel show at the Point and has masterminded shows for Marc O'Neill, Joanne Hynes, Lainey Keogh, Top Shop and others. Runs her own creative management company, SRM Management, and conceived the idea of Dublin Fashion Week.