Ireland Fashion Week, which wrapped up at the beginning of last week, was a small but mighty peek into the world of Irish fashion. Sure, it was only the second edition of the budding event, but it still brought together more than 90 designers, including Rashhiiid (a SZA-favourite) and the formidable Sinéad O’Dwyer, along with the likes of Alana Hadid and KhakiKid.
Newer fashion weeks often attract a level of excitement in the air that has often been stifled out of the fashion industry in, say, New York or Milan. This radiates into the street style, too. Almost everyone I spoke to was eager to tell me that they were wearing all Irish designs. With Dior staging its upcoming Pre-Fall 2027 show at Trinity College, the world seems to be in agreement: Irish fashion is on the up. After all, Copenhagen Fashion Week was once considered small and grassroots before it became the unofficial fifth stop on the global fashion calendar.
Below, we speak to people about the future of Irish fashion.
ALICE UGBAH, DUBLIN
How would you describe Irish fashion?
It can be quite traditional, but also very diverse, very eclectic.
What’s your hope for the future of Ireland Fashion Week?
I just hope that it grows even more and that Irish designers are able to showcase their work. They’re very talented, so I hope there is going to be a bigger platform for them to be seen worldwide.
COCO ROCHA, CONNECTICUT
What show were you most excited about at Ireland Fashion Week?
I’m Canadian, so I’ve done a lot of work promoting Canadian fashion, which doesn’t have the platform it should. I expected that similar start-up feeling here, but there’s just so much talent. There must be something in the water that makes people here just itching to create.
How would you describe Irish fashion?
I was just at the Irish Roots show, and everything seems very traditional with their own spin on it. You see the tweed and historical aspects, and the designers appreciate where they come from, but I don’t think everyone is living in storybooks and trying to go backwards. They just knew there was something very important to use from that craft.
TOBI, CARLOW
How would you describe Irish fashion?
It’s very expressive. I think people don’t think there’s a lot of fashion here, and they are very mistaken. But there’s a real global footprint in Irish fashion that has a really distinct taste around it.
What’s your hope for the future of Ireland Fashion Week?
Just that it continues. We’re really seeing a lot of art spaces closed down, and I’m just hoping that this scene that we’re building continues to build, but also that the rest of the world gets to see what Irish fashion is made of.
HOLLY WARREN, DUBLIN
How would you describe Irish fashion?
There’s been a strange surge in it recently. It’s different compared to Paris, London and Milan, but there’s a lot of creativity and a focus on culture here within the fashion. I think that’s super interesting as well.
What were you most excited about at Ireland Fashion Week?
Definitely Sinéad O'Dwyer. I loved her show; it was unbelievable.
AMANDA ADÉ, DUBLIN
What were you most excited about at Ireland Fashion Week?
My favourite show was definitely Brotherwolf. Loved the styling, and the music was chef’s kiss.
How would you describe Irish fashion?
I would describe Irish fashion as a conversation between heritage and modern innovation – with the Atlantic weather as a mediator.
SIK, LONDON
What were you most excited about at Ireland Fashion Week?
I was most looking forward to the Sinéad O'Dwyer show and trying a spice bag. And I really liked the vastness of ideas on display at the graduate show.
How would you describe Irish fashion?
I think Irish fashion felt generally quite traditional, but as younger people start taking the reins, I feel they are starting to recontextualise fashion and tailoring of Ireland’s past into both more subversive and more universal design.
RACHELLE CUNNINGHAM, PARIS
How would you describe Irish fashion?
I was born in Dublin, so this is coming home. I think Ireland is very eclectic; it’s up-and-coming. It needs things like this to help modernise it, to help it get to the next level.
What were you most excited about at Ireland Fashion Week?
I guess presenting my own, House of Amaranthine, for the first time and getting to see what I made on people. I want to see how they play with all the pieces.
ZEDA, LONDON
How would you describe Irish fashion?
On the precipice of doing something cool. I feel like we’re not there yet, but we’re almost there. And because of that, we’re getting to explore this way of figuring out our identity and ways of dressing. My outfit today, for example, every single thing is completely Irish. It’s really cool to be like, ‘Oh my god, everything I’m wearing is from this country.’
What’s your hope for the future of Ireland Fashion Week?
Last year, I was one of the few people who got to go to every single thing. This year, being involved in the background, I’m just excited to see where the future takes us. I keep saying that we’re going to see who’s really doing things to move culture and the scene forward. And I’m just really excited to be part of the conversation.