Going native: Showcasing contemporary Irish design

Ahead of St Patrick’s Day, Carolyn Moore showcases Ireland’s finest design talent. 

Made in Ireland. It’s a phrase that conjures different things for different people, but as March sees a resurgence of the #WearingIrish campaign on Instagram, following the hashtag might be an eye-opening experience for those who think Irish-made fashion is somehow stuck in the past.

When the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland unleashed a new initiative called TextILSE at this year’s Showcase tradeshow, not only did they team designers, such as Peter O’Brien, with Irish fabric mills to produce one-off garments that were entirely homespun, they also showcased a new wave of designers who are committed to giving homespun fashion a fresh, contemporary feel.