Fashion and Beauty 29th January 2023 by Grace Mollaghan

The Irish Designers Dominating Fashion Right Now

 

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Oscar Wilde, Colin Farrell and Bono. In Ireland we are known for our creatives; it’s ingrained in ever aspect of our lives, from our school years learning to play the tin-whistle to the live music we crave in pub culture. Our small island is brimming with talent not only in art, music and literature, but also, in recent years, in fashion. Irish designers have been taking the fashion world by storm with bold designs, innovative concepts and ultimately, gorgeous clothes. Here is a list of some of the world’s most accredited designers that you might not know are Irish!

Simone Rocha

 

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We’re going to kick off our list with the amazing Simone Rocha, who has blossomed into one of the most in-demand designers at fashion week. Based in London, with an atelier in her hometown, Dublin, Rocha graduated from NCAD after developing a love for fashion from her father, designer John Rocha. A student of the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s College in London, Simone Rocha weaves both her Irish and Chinese culture and heritage into all her collection, bringing her Irish-ness to the fashion world. Having won the ‘British Womenswear Designer Award’ at the 2016 Fashion Awards, Rocha’s collections have a flamboyant femininity to them that embraces curiosity and contrasting shapes and materials. If you ever attend one of her regular London Fashion Week shows, you’ll be in store for a lot of tulle, daring silhouettes and an abundance of costume jewellery.

JW Anderson

 

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Next on our list is creative director of Loewe as well as his own namesake brand, JW Anderson. Born Johnathon Anderson in Co. Derry, this designer took the fashion world by storm when he launched his eponym brand in 2008 followed by his induction into Spanish brand Loewe as their creative director in 2013. Often risqué and dramatically outlandish, Anderson has made both of his brands the hottest shows to attend at both London and Paris Fashion Week. Characterised by his need to surprise his audience, the energy at a JW Anderson show is palpable and always leaves us wanting more.

 

Richard Quinn

 

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Whilst we know Richard Quinn was born and raised in East London, both his parents are from Ireland so we are going to claim him for this list, especially when you see all the Irish influence in his dramatic collections. Famous for his bold prints, dramatic silhouettes and abundance of latex, fashion editors worldwide scramble to get their hands on Richard Quinn’s latest collection or even a coveted ticket, if they should be so lucky. His most recent collection, an homage to Queen Elizebeth II, displayed a funeral procession followed by his authentically wild dramatic collection that left the crowd dazzled. Interspersed with latex leggings, sky-high heels and shoulder pads like you have never seen it before, Quinn’s latest collection was above and beyond anything we have seen before.

 

Laura Weber

 

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If it’s good enough for the First Lady, then it’s good enough for us! Laura Weber has not only taken the fashion world by storm, but it also seems she is a favourite in the political arena, after Dr. Jill Biden wore one of her amazing designs to the inauguration of President Biden in 2020. The NCAD graduate continues to create hand embroidered masks and dresses for the First Lady along with some of the queens of fashion including Rihanna, Lupita Nyongo’o, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. Based in New-York, the Irish designer is known for her delicate embroidery, immaculate tailoring and fun embellishments.

Sorcha O’Raghallaigh

 

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Finally, to round off this list we have to mention Sorcha O’Raghallaigh, who makes the glitziest clothing and accessories you could find. Endorsed by Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Madonna to name but a few, this Irish designer is showing us how glamour is done by using dramatic embellishments, monochromatic looks and feathers for the extra drama. After returning back to Ireland after designing in London and Italy, this young creative is only at the start of a very exciting fashion career.

 

by Grace Mollaghan