January
January 2024 opened with Simone Rocha’s spectacular haute couture debut in Paris as a guest of French fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier, marking the beginning of an exceptional year for Irish designers. Rocha’s new takes on familiar Gaultier motifs, particularly his famous conical bras and corsetry, were rapturously received.
March
Roisin Pierce’s presentation of her third collection at the Irish Embassy in Paris offered a line-up of romantic and ethereal “sweet wrapper” dresses in Irish crochet lace, tulle, recycled satin and ribbons. It heralded her endorsement by Comme des Garcons, who have taken her under their wing at Dover Street Market in Paris.
April
Manhattan-based Irish designer Laura Weber of LW Pearl made headlines as the designer of the Team Ireland’s Olympic Games parade uniforms, outfitting more than 120 Irish athletes and, as a solo trader, joining international fashion giants including Uniqlo, Adidas, Armani and Berluti in supporting their countries. Each uniform involved 156 hours of sewing and embroidery. It was a considerable achievement for Weber, a graduate of Loreto Rathfarnham and NCAD.
Four members of Council of Irish Fashion Designers (CIFD) – Christine Murphy (Urban Aran), Sara O’Neill (Eadach), Faye Rochford (FéRí) and Sharon Hoey (AndTate) – participated in the Hainan Expo in China, supported by the Embassy of Ireland there, celebrating Ireland’s status as Country of Honour at this year’s event.
Time magazine named Irish designer JW Anderson as one of the most influential people of the year. Since establishing his brand in 2008, Anderson has earned a dizzying array of awards and accolades. He not only creates six collections a year for his men’s wear and womenswear lines, but also eight for Loewe, the Spanish luxury house where he has been creative director since 2014.
August
In another coup for an Irish designer, London-based Sinéad O’Dwyer from Tullamore, winner of the Zalando Visionary Award of €50,000, presented her summer 2025 collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week in the Danish capital’s Opera Park.
In Ennistymon, The Tweed Project, founded by Aoibheann McNamara and Triona Lillis, celebrated their 10th year in business with a collection called A Gentle Life, showcasing their commitment to the simplicity and artistry of natural fabrics and slow fashion through their thoughtful use of Irish tweed, linen and Aran knits.
September
London-based Clare native Michael Stewart, a graduate of the Royal College of Art in 2017, was announced as the winner of the 2024 LVMH Savoir Faire Prize for young designers. Founder of the brand Standing Ground, he is also shortlisted with seven other international designers for the LVMH 2025 Prize, worth €400,000.
November
Independent Irish Fashion Week got off to a sparkling and energetic start with Megan McGuigan’s and Greg Hall’s fashion shows in Fade Street, followed by an array of events culminating in Smock Alley where some 20 talented young Irish designers showcased their work.
In tandem with Irish Design Week, a highlight was Kid Super, aka Colm Dillane from New York, creative director of men's wear at Louis Vuitton, who charmed a packed house at the RIAM in conversation with Natalie B Coleman. His father is from Rathdowney and the event was attended by a big contingent from Laois.
In Lisbon, NCAD graduate Molly Walters launched her first collection as fashion designer of Taippe (pronounced type) with Matilde Guimaraes, a sustainable streetwear brand in which every item will have a digital passport and QR code giving details of the fibre composition and country of origin. .
At the IDI Design Awards held in the RDS, winners in the fashion and accessories categories were Jennifer Slattery, known for her innovative printed linens, who won overall fashion designer of the year; Shock of Grey and MoMuse, best jewellery designers; August Night, best accessory design; and Stable of Ireland, best textile design.
Paris-based Dubliner Sean Byrne, the first Irish person to study haute couture at the city’s renowned Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and who, after graduation in 2020, worked in the ateliers of Dior and St Laurent, is to become the premier tailleur at the new Alaia flagship on the Rue Saint-Honoré, starting in January, a great step up in his career.
December
The year ends with the launch of Simone Rocha, the first comprehensive study of the work of the Irish designer, published by Rizzoli International Publications. TA great Christmas present for anyone interested in fashion.
