Samsung Young Designer

Style: Brendan Courtney and Aisling Kilduff; 2. Alex Ludwig; 3. Sarah Lennon and Lavinia Gallagher. (Pix. BME)

Claire Lynam from Ratoath, Co. Meath who studies in NCAD won the overall Samsung Young Designer of the Year 2013 from an impressive shortlist of 12 designers.　 Claire’s prize package included a Samsung Galaxy smartphone; Samsung Galaxy Note tablet; a Samsung NX 300 camera, an exclusive portfolio shoot with renowned fashion photographer Barry McCall and PR representation from Limelight Communications.

The judging panel consisted of top Irish fashion photographer Barry McCall, the Design Centre’s Aisling Kilduff, fashion editor of the Sunday Independent, Constance Harris and General Manager of Samsung IT & Mobile Ireland, Gary Twohig.

Guests at the VIP reception sipped on Baileys and dined on bespoke fashion inspired canapés. The awards were hosted by one of Ireland’s leading fashion couples Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney. Also in attendance was Alexander Ludwig, star of the Hunger Games movie, Samsung DFF Ambassador Darren Kennedy, stylist Maria Fusco and fashion blogger, Emily O’Donnell.

Design Loft @ Powerscourt Estate

Design: 1. Triona McCarthy and Aisling O'Loughlin; 2. Emer O'Leary of Me & Emee.  (Pix. AE)

Shopping for beautiful hand-crafts and original Irish design, from jewellery and accessories to home-wares, takes an interesting twist this month with the opening of The Design Loft @ Powerscourt Estate, an exciting new retail concept.

The brainchild of entrepreneur Sinead Buckley Quinn, the spectacular gallery at Powerscourt House, Co. Wicklow, will house a collection from ten different local designers, artists and makers each month in a ‘rotating pop-up shop’.

The store was officially opened by Senator Feargal Quinn, who spoke about his passion for retail and praised the new business venture.  He was presented with a gift of Killiney Arts bone china, created by artists Simon Hoe and Blaithin Quinn, who are among the initial artists ‘in residence’ at The Design Loft.

Among the guests were Aisling O’Loughlin of TV3, with her young son Patrick.  She lives on the grounds of the nearby Kilruddery House and was looking forward to the Groove music festival that was taking place at the historic estate.  Triona McCarthy attended with her mother Margaret, they also didn’t have far to travel as they were enjoying a relaxing break at Druid’s Glen.

Milliner Sarah McGahon was there and is one of the designers stocked.  Sarah Slazenger, whose family own the Powerscourt Estate, welcomed the new addition to the house.  She manages the 1,000 acre estate and is responsible for the ongoing development and growth of the business.

The retail offering at the Design Loft is carefully selected with quality design and originality paramount in the selection process. Designers will also regularly be on hand to meet visitors and discuss their work.

www.designloft.ie

 

Top Craft

Crafty: 1. Keith Kenny and Lorna Burton; 2. Rebecca Marsden wearing one of her designs; 3. Garvan de Bruir and Angela O'Kelly. (Pix. MOS)

The Crafts Council of Ireland hosted an event to announce the Future Makers Awards & Supports programme Fallon and Byrne.  Alison Conneely, a gifted young Irish fashion designer who draws inspiration from her native Connemara, has won the top prize in this year’s top prize.

Peroni Design Awards

Design: 1. Matteo Alessi; 2. Carmel Mannion; 3. Adam Duxbury. (Pix. Anthony Woods)

Matteo Alessi officially launched the Peroni Design Awards at the opening of the exhibition Icons of Italian Design in The Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square, Dublin 2.

The national design competition, organised by Peroni Nastro Azzurro, the premium Italian beer brand,  is seeking to push the boundaries of excellence and design by challenging designers to create an original item to enhance the enjoyment of Peroni during a special occasion.

The competition will be fronted and judged by Matteo Alessi, of international design house Alessi, in conjunction with key members of the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) and Design Week 2013 with the winner receiving a €2,000 cash prize.

Fashion Exposure

Fashion Forward: 1. Aishling Kilduff and Kathryn Thomas; 2. Caroline Harrington; 3. Jessie May Gallagher and John McCormack. (Pix. KH)

The 4th Annual “Irish Fashion Exposure - Spring Summer 2013”, a beautiful fashion extravaganza to feature Irelands leading and international designers from The Design Centre, took place at the Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club.

The concept of the event is to create a relaxed environment for fashion lovers to enjoy a top-of-the line Irish fashion show and have the opportunity to place orders and interact with the designers on a more personal level.

A dual aim of this event is also to raise funds for the Order of St. Lazarus Ireland, a Charity
engaged in humanitarian work with children and the invalided. This year again the nominated Charities who will be the recipients of this event will be the CrossCare Dublin Food Program, Global Emergency Care Skills & GlobalH2O. These projects are small and vital and to both their local community and those who are often the most in need and often the most overlooked.

Specs appeal

Look: 1. RTE’s Louise Heraghty and Charlotte Doyle; 2. Irish Times fashion blogger Rosemary McCabe; 3. John Rocha with wife Odette Rocha. (Pix. KH)

Internationally-renowned fashion designer John Rocha has teamed up with Specsavers Ireland to launch a new eyewear collection. Available exclusively at all 44 Specsavers Ireland stores nationwide, the range features 13 contemporary designs to suit the modern woman. Inherently true to the John Rocha style, the timeless collection features beautiful colours, textures and wonderful temple embellishments.

John Rocha, who recently unveiled his autumn/winter 2013 collection at London Fashion Week, is known for his pared back styles and muted palette, and has made a departure this season using bright crimson, blush pink and indigo blue. This is reflected in his eyewear collection.

 “I’ve drawn on some of the recurring temple motifs, criss-cross and lace patterns and embellishments that you’ll find in my other collections, but have injected more colour. I usually tend to favour the more muted colours of black, ecru and charcoal but last year I spent some time working in the south of France and I suppose the light and colour there made me appreciate and consider colour more. I’ve used indigo and petrol blues, purple and berry red tones in a combination of metal and acetate to make the glasses a true fashion statement. Ultimately, if you love fashion or just feel good wearing them, then they are for you,” he says.

BooHoo summer

BooHoo: 1. Louise McDertmott and Glenda Gilson; 2. Model Clara McSweeney; 3. Fiona Kelly and Caroline Weir. (Pix. BME)

The sun shone brightly for the launch of the boohoo.com Summer 13 collection in Dublin.  Models Thalia Heffernan and Clara McSweeney kicked off the event at the penthouse of the Morgan Hotel with a range of vintage inspired dresses in sugary pastel shades of mink, peach and nude.  

Among those at the event were Emily O’Donnell who got into the boohoo #GlobalStyler vibe, Dr. Eva Orsmond and stylists Brendan Marc Scully and Cathy O’Connor.  TV presenter Glenda Gilson and blogger Rosemary MacCabe both chose their favourite boohoo pieces from their wardrobes to wear for the occasion. 

The collections included super feminine shapes in glistening metallic fabrics and embellished with sequin details creating a perfect Summer occasion look, taking inspiration from Oscar de la Renta.