I am a 22 year old Womenswear Designer from Innishannon Co. Cork. My work is focused on conveying a narrative through interesting texture and surface detail against simple but experimental silhouettes. I often draw inspiration from the world of folk tales, science fiction and fantasy. For example, My graduate collection was based on the cave drawings of the Paleolithic era. My goals in relation to this collection involved complex and experimental pattern and new methods of sewing challenging fabrics such as velvet and chiffon. To honour the continuous mark-making found in these caves, I avoided straight lines in my designs, opting for unconventional seamlines and soft, curving silhouettes. craftsmanship, textile-driven innovation and made-to-measure fashion are my core principles. I hand-painted my own devoré (burnout) on satin and velvet. I dyed the velvets, satins and rope to achieve the exact colours of the minerals used by the palaeolithic artists. The story I wish to convey is one of ageless beauty during times of survival.
