By Eimear Phelan

It has been a successful season for Irish fashion designers in the Spring 2025 fashion shows. 

Fashion month this September featured many Irish designers such as Simone Rocha, JW Anderson, Róisín Pierce, Michael Stewart, and Sean McGirr, the new creative director at Alexander McQueen, who made his debut in Paris.  

This successful fashion month had Irish designers featured in both the London and Paris fashion weeks. 

However, the Irish representation doesn’t stop there as Taylor Swift was spotted wearing a skirt designed by Sibeal Crehan, an Irish designer now based in New York. The media attention continues with John Mangru, also an Irish designer who worked on Katy Perry’s performance outfit for Rock in Rio music festival. 

 “It is really inspiring to see the incredible works by Irish designers being recognised in international media,” said Ciara O’Gorman, 20, an independent fashion designer.  

“When I was growing up, I would never see Irish designs in mainstream media, it was all American or English designers,” she said. 

O’Gorman has been designing clothes for 13 years and finds it “really heartwarming and reassuring” to know that people like her can get out there and make it in the fashion scene. 

“Irish designs are so unique. I know myself, I take a lot of inspiration from our nature, culture and intricate details, for example, the Triskele (this is the triple spiral also known as the three-legged-man),” said O’Gorman. 

Similarly, Cara Sturgess, 33, of Loinnir Jewlery  believes that this was inevitable. Her designs are inspired by old Irish jewellery, similar to the pieces on display in the Irish Archaeological Museum like the “rich, impressive torc neck collars”. 

“It’s making a piece of Ireland that you can take with you and be proud of – a modern take on what has come before you,” Sturgess said.  

“Ever since COVID, I really feel that people are buying locally and supporting the community. 

“A lot of young people especially, have an understanding of the significance of shopping sustainably and many, if not most, Irish designers I know of are incredibly sustainable in the way they make their clothes,” O’Gorman said.  

Sturgess’ jewelry is wrapped in FSC-certified cardboard paper and recycled PET inserts, with 100% compostable padded envelopes. Sturgess is very eco conscious and believes that if you start sustainable, it’s easy to stay sustainable, as your business grows. 

“Seeing celebrities wearing Irish pieces and Irish design has a massive impact on young girls and boys in Ireland, who might not have even though designing or fashion was even an option. 

 “There are more classes and workshops available for younger people now which we wouldn’t have had before. This really helps nurture the creativity in young people now,” O’Gorman said.  

The Kildare Town retailer ‘Gather’ offers workshops in the different crafts that are on show in their retail shops. Classes like painting, jewellery making, and different art mediums are all available for people to take part in to encourage people to tap into their own creativity. 

Sturgess started her business in 2015 and has made use of the government incentives and advises anyone starting a small business to go to their local enterprise, and do the courses provided.  

She participated in the ‘12 week start your own business course’, availed herself of the training online voucher to start up her website, and went to her local Craft Council who give training in areas that you might not be comfortable in. 

“I’m more on the creative side but when you run a business you have to learn to deal with taxes, online media, legal works, and networking,” she said. 

Since starting her business, Sturgess is currently set up in ‘Gather’, her retail site for Kildare- created brands. Set up by Kildare County Council’s Enterprise and Economic Development Department, it will last for a period of 18 months to showcase and sell local art and designs. 

Irish designers have had a successful run in the media lately leaving the younger generation with a very strong light to follow. It is evident that the Irish fashion industry is in safe and creative hands.