Cult knitwear label Electronic Sheep designer Brenda Aherne was in town today and popped in to show me the fantastic creations from the Autumn Collection of Hats and Scarves. Brenda and partner Helen Delany work between London and Dublin. With a firm hold in the UK market and multiple mentions in Grazia and Vogue magazine they want a foot hold in Ireland. I love their fabulous quirky intarsia prints in great washable lambswool. I have agreed to represent the brand here and am really excited about the prospect of covering the country in fun, crafted colourful knits and with the Winter well and truly on the way I say bring it on…
If you are in London
There was great excitement in the town of Portlaoise this evening as Heidi Higgins opened her Couture Design Studio. I travelled by train from Dublin to be there and was delighted with what I found. Heidi Higgins has hit the world of Irish Fashion design in a whirlwind with several feature articles in the Press and Fashion Editors writing great reviews. A very young designer with a mature outlook and a huge amount of talent should translate into a huge success. Heidi built up a large fan base during her time in The Loft in Dublin but has now taken the decision to continue to build the business from her home base where she can design, sell and interact with customers. Consolidating and building are what can take a small business to the next stage and this move should enable that development.
Heidi’s dresses are easy to wear during the day yet certainly stylish enough to go to any special event. They are cut as only experienced designers can cut and the fabrics are the very best from around the world. By visiting Heidi’s studio you can find out a little of what goes into the design process.
Working in beautifully cut fabrics using striking colours of Jade, Blackberry purple, hot pink, Lemon and Ocean Blue and providing a bespoke service at reasonable prices adds up to a really fantastic range of dresses and Jackets for this Spring Summer. I have already picked my Summer Dress from the collection which appeals to my Mad Men fixation and which Heidi will make a little longer for me. I also loved the great selection of fabulously practical work wear/laptop bags from Penelope & Parker in luxury leather which are also on sale.
The train ride from Dublin was a very comfortable hour long journey and the Boutique/Studio which houses Heidi’s full collection is a stones throw from the train station. Here are some of the pictures I managed to take before we all headed around the corner to Jim’s Country Kitchen to listen to live music, sip prosecco and eat some tasty morsels. It’s a hard life this Fashion Business !!!!
Heidi Higgins
Penelope&Parker Workwear/Laptop Bag
Heidi Higgins Store & Studio No 27 Church Street Portlaoise Ireland T. +353 (0)57 868 9027 Bespoke Items can be tailored to specification
First up is the Fashion Awards from the UK. I was delighted to see that Christopher Bailey, Creative Director of Luxury Brand Burberry took the title Designer of the Year. When he was here a couple of weeks ago he wouldn’t answer whether Burberry would show at London Fashion week next season. Burberry showed in London to much acclaim last season. Well the answer as announced last week is that Burberry will grace the London Catwalk again next season.
Christoph Bailey in Trinity College Dublin two weeks ago
Enjoy this link and watch Hilary Alexander from the Telegraph newspaper doorstep V. Beckham and Kate Moss at the British Fashion Awards Ceremony in London Last week. We don’t get to hear Kate Moss talking a lot and this short video gives us a glimpse of exactly what goes on outside these do’s
In New York the Great Fake debate took another twist last week as a huge clampdown took place. $1 million dollars worth of fake bags and jewellery were seized in a big raid on Canal Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown. In a city that takes it’s Fashion Industry seriously this at least is an interruption and a serious move to show that this lucrative fake business is not wanted.
