Shopping local: the menswear edit 

Tweed, wool, leather — Irish crafts rise to all weathers and occasions

Magee 1866 Suzy McCanny Paul McLauchlan fashion

One of the pandemic’s many casualties has been local businesses. With travel restrictions and non-essential retail closures in place, shopping has fallen to the wayside in the name of safety. Yet, across Ireland, many toil away in factories and on kitchen tables to deliver a variation on what many Irish people hold so dear: craftsmanship. Irish crafts are also heavily reliant on tourists.

The Showcase Ireland exhibition, now in its 45th year, is typically held in January and connects craftspeople with buyers. The January 2020 edition earned approximately €26 million over four days, illuminating the timeless appeal of Irish design. In light of the pandemic, which has reinforced an interest in supporting local, at a time when indigenous creators need it the most, this year’s instalment will still take place, albeit online.