Brian Friel once said about Glenties that it “occupies a large portion of my affections and permanently shaped my imagination.” This sentiment strongly resonates with me and became the starting point for my Graduate Collection. I drew inspiration from his play Dancing at Lughnasa, where he created the fictional town of ‘Ballybeg’ based on his time in Glenties. It explores life in West Donegal during the 1930’s, with a particular focus on the festival of Lughnasa. Lughnasa marks the beginning of the harvest and is deeply rooted in Celtic tradition. Traditions such as bonfires play a central role in the celebrations. Traditions that originate with this festival are still carried on in my hometown of Glenties today and across Ireland. I aimed to reflect these events through my textiles processes and garments design. A key material in my work is selvedge, a byproduct from Magee Weaving that is typically trimmed from the edges of woven fabric and discarded. I experimented extensively with the selvedge through a range of textile techniques, including knitting, weaving, and felting. My aim was to reimagine this overlooked ‘waste’ material, recycle it by giving it another purpose and maximise its lifespan. All other materials I use are natural fibres. With the intention of creating a collection that is entirely biodegradable, my yarn, generously sponsored by Magee 1866, consists of 100% wool and 100% linen.
