Sir, – I write to protest at the specific exclusion of independent Irish fashion designers, including milliners, jewellers and accessories designers, from the Government’s Basic Income for the Arts scheme, whereas costume designers in film or opera and street artists and circus performers do qualify.
Independent Irish designers are jugglers too, seeking to balance recovery from a series of devastating lockdowns with escalating costs for their creative enterprises.
The overall effect of this travesty will result in Ireland, once again, exporting more highly qualified fashion graduates than fashion collections, to the benefit of other economies. – Yours, etc,
EDDIE SHANAHAN,
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Chairperson,
Council of Irish
Fashion Designers,
Dublin 11.