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WHEN you think of fashion, you may think of Paris or New York or London, but another fashion capital may be growing just on our doorstep.
In the last number of years Ireland has really raised it’s stakes in the fashion industry. Designers have been cropping up all over the country, and some of them have achieved monumental success.
Excluding the rest of Ireland, Kerry alone has been incredibly successful. This week the launch of Kerry Fashion Week and the Irish Fashion Industry Awards was held in Dublin; and now the countdown begins to the big event.
People in the fashion industry know what a prestigious event KFW has grown to be, but outsiders still scoff even at the possibility of an Irish Fashion industry.
This is something that constantly comes up in various conversations that I have with so many people, who truly can’t wrap their heads around the idea of such a successful industry.
“Yeah right; a fashion industry in Ireland” “Well that’s a bit of a joke now isn’t it?”
I think that fashion as a business has always seemed unattainable and intimidating to a lot of people, which may have resulted in the attitude that it is faced with today, particularly in Ireland.
But it is not an attitude that I wish to continue.
I just don’t see how it can seem so improbable to people. If Irish people can carve careers in sport or in science from Ireland, then why not in fashion?
Some Irish people will forever be imbedded with an old way of thinking and will forever associate fashion with something negative. But I think that we should celebrate Irish designers and stylists and models.
It is a very hard industry to work in, believe me, and I don’t think that these people are given there fair dues for all the hard work that they do.
Think about Helen Steele, Una Burke, Helen Cody; all the successes that they have achieved in the past number of years. I feel like people still write them off as unsuccessful just because they’re Irish. That is until I name drop all the famous faces that they have worked with.
Then, closer to home, we have Don O’Neill, Tina Griffin, Carol Kennelly, Caroline Matthews and a million more. All hugely talented and successful designers.
If I am not getting my point across at this stage, let me draw up a little comparison for you.
Whenever someone mentions a sportsperson to me; even though I know absolutely nothing about it, I still treat their name with respect and accept their successes.
So would you kindly do the same when someone speaks of any Irish fashion success? Because I can guarantee you that the Irish Fashion Industry is thriving and it has no signs of slowing down.
With that thought in mind, why not book your ticket to KFW to lay eyes on the up and coming, and the well established, designers of Ireland.
I can promise you that you won’t regret it.
• Check out Zoe O’Connor’s website teen times.eu and follow her on Twitter here
