It might come as a surprise to some, but Ireland's fashion scene is thriving at the moment, with designers like Simone Rocha, Una Burke, Sorcha O'Raghallaigh, Emma Manley and Natalie Coleman really turning heads at home and abroad. Of course they all have to start somewhere, and for those who made it to the final of the Young Fashion Designer of the Year Awards last night, this is moment they go from 'starting somewhere' to 'big things!'
98FM's Aideen Finnegan and Rebecca Horan headed along to the Bank of Ireland on College Green for the show presented by designers Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney.
BoI, yer lookin well! via ElevatePR
There was a feck-load of designers and stylists, herds of hipsters, a flock-load of fabulous people, a powerhouse of choooons, and even a DRONE to capture the whole show.
The 12 young designers who made it to the All Ireland final are: Ciaran Gormley from University of Ulster Belfast, Sophie Wallace from NCAD, Claire McElduff from University of Ulster Belfast, Sookyoung Song from ChongAng Fashion School Korea, Bríd McDonald from Griffith College Dublin...
via @Julesmodelagent
...Geraldine Breen from Mallow College of Design and Tailoring, Gwen Cunningham from The National College of Art and Design, Cliodhna Scully from Griffith College Dublin, Caroline Martin from Limerick School of Art and Design, Rebecca Kenny from Colaiste Dhulaigh, Marian Witcher from Dublin Institute of Design and Suzanne Stroker also from Dublin Institute of Design.
L: Rebecca Kenny R: Gwen Cunningham
Clockwise starting top right: Cliodhna Scully, Claire McElduff, Geraldine Breen, Sophie Wallace
Clockwise starting top right: Caroline Martin, Rebecca Kenny, Suzanne Soker
Top right: Derek Lawlor
Left: Rebecca Marsden
Judging the event were: Barry McCall; TV3 Xpose producer, Debbie O’ Donnell; Aisling Kilduff, owner of the Design Centre; Stacey O’Donnell, head of personal shopping at Brown Thomas and Deirdre Devaney, ladies fashion director at Arnotts.
And the winner was...
....22 year old Ciaran Gormley from the University of Ulster with his stunning and intricate blue knitted gown.
Massive congrats to everyone involved on a brilliant night!
Clockwise from top right: Amy Hamilton from Raglan on Drury Street, 98FM's Rebecca Horan, Amy's funky rings, and that's myself up there on the top left trying to look cool!
@AideenFinnegan
