THE fashion department at NCAD has been extraordinarily successful, with graduates working for top couturiers and big name design houses all over the world. This year the college is celebrating its 250th anniversary, so instead of holding their usual fairly low key end of year fashion show they took over the RDS for a huge catwalk show that included work by some of their most successful past pupils.
Hat man Philip Treacy arrived with his current collection and his own model - his pal Susie Bick who is also one of Vivienne Westwood's favourites. Eileen Shields and Ciara Walsh, who work for Donna Karan in New York, in to show some of their work for this season's DKNY collection, and Michael McGrath arrived from London where he works for Gievens & Hawkes of Savile Row.
The audience for the sold outshow included a good sprinkling of proud parents as well as the head of fashion department Frances McDonagh. Noel Sheridan, the head of the college, looked very smart in black tie. Designer John Rocha, his wife Odette and Michael Mortell were there to take a look at this crop of exceptionally talented students.
After the show Frances hosted a supper party in Fitzer's restaurant in Ballsbridge for 60 people but most of the younger set, including Philip Treacy, decamped to the Chocolate Bar.