Ireland’s in style
When it comes to fashion in 2025, nobody does it like the Irish. Here’s why Ireland is where it’s at, from big-name designs to small independent labels
Magee Tweed, Loom, Donegal Town, Co Donegal
Culturally, it’s hard to ignore Ireland right now. From literature and film, music and television, the Irish are taking the world by storm. In 2024, the New York Times declared that popular culture was being infused with “big Irish energy” and now, it’s the turn of Irish fashion, with the spotlight shining on a wave of boundary-pushing, cutting-edge designers emerging from the Emerald Isle.
Big names such as Dublin-born Seán McGirr, who is currently the creative director of Alexander McQueen and Jonathan Anderson from County Derry, whose recent departure from Loewe has led to whispers about a potential Dior position, are two of the most high-profile figures in the industry, at London and Paris Fashion Week, Irish designers including Simone Rocha, Roisin Pierce and Sinead O’Dwyer all commanded attention, further amplifying already unprecedented buzz around Irish style. We’ve yet to see which Irish designers will hit the headlines at the upcoming Met Gala, one of the biggest nights in fashion, but at the 2024 event, the Irish showing was strong, with Zendaya wearing a blooming headpiece by Irish milliner Philip Treacy, Eve Hewson in Simone Rocha and Lana del Rey in Alexander McQueen by Seán McGirr.
Green Check Worsted Wool Kate Trench Coat, Triona Donegal
A place of creativity
For many, this flourishing of Irish fashion and design is part of the importance placed on creativity in Ireland, as well as our rich artistic and cultural heritage. Indeed, part of what unites both established Irish design labels and emerging Irish designers is a respect and love for the island’s craft and artisanal traditions. Whether it’s Roisin Pierce’s exquisite lace and crochet creations or Paul Costelloe’s use of tweed from Magee of Ireland, designers from the island of Ireland are filtering traditions through a very modern lens, giving rise to a fresh, distinctly Irish aesthetic. According to Anna Guerin of the modern tailoring label The Landskein, which uses tweeds from fifth-generation weavers in County Donegal, “Irish designers are making waves because there is a global desire for authenticity, craftsmanship, and sustainability – all values deeply embedded in Irish design. We are a nation of storytellers, and our fashion is an extension of that, weaving heritage into contemporary expressions.”
The meshing of the past and present can be seen in several slow-fashion-focused design companies in Ireland, one of which is The Tweed Project, creating handmade, one-off pieces in Irish tweeds and linens with a clean contemporary edge. For co-founder Aoibheann McNamara, the heritage of Irish craft is key to their unique vision. “I grew up in Donegal surrounded by weavers who made handcrafted Aran jumpers from local tweed,” she explains. “My passion for authentic pieces stemmed from there. Slow fashion is at the heart of the brand – we adore indigenous Irish materials, and each garment is crafted with care and attention to detail.”
Triona Donegal is another brand that brings a contemporary look to the age-old technique of handweaving. Located in Ardara in County Donegal, long associated with Donegal Tweeds, the label was founded on the “principles of resilience and love for craftsmanship”.
A nation of storytellers
For Anna Guerin of The Landskein, Irish textiles stand apart because, in an era of mass production, they “carry the essence of the landscape, the hand of the maker, and the legacy of Irish craftsmanship”. And, as she notes in fashion in general, “There’s a shift towards valuing pieces with history, texture, and a real sense of place.”
One of the best ways to experience Irish design on the island of Ireland is, of course, to start with the makers. “Seek out the ateliers, mills and workshops where true craftsmanship is still alive,” advises Anna. “Visit our coastal towns, where weavers create some of the world’s most exquisite wools, and explore independent designers who are redefining Irish fashion for a modern audience. And, of course, embrace the landscape itself. It’s where so much of our creative inspiration begins.”
Donegal Craft Village, Lurganboy, Donegal
LABELS THAT HONOUR HERITAGE – FIVE TO TRY
As well as The Landskein, The Tweed Project and Triona Donegal, we’ve got five labels to try with heritage, sustainability and craftsmanship at their core…
Kindred of Ireland
Famous around the world Irish linen has been at the heart of Ireland’s textile industry for centuries, Kindred of Ireland brings a contemporary edge to classic linen looks - visit their flagship retail store in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Native Denims
Reviving the manufacturing of jeans in Ireland, Dublin-based Native uses vintage machines to create quality denims with the emphasis on sustainability and slow fashion.
Using 20 skilled knotters working from home, Hope Macauley, who hails from the picturesque Northern Irish seaside town of Portstewart, is “helping to keep the traditional cottage industry alive”. Her bright, “dopamine-hit’ knitwear creations have attracted celebrities including Gigi Hadid, Black Pink’s Lisa and Naomi Osaka.
Ireland’s first B Corp fashion brand, Aoife McNamara creates modern heritage pieces “deeply rooted in Irish traditions”. Expect long wool coats and reimagined classics in the brand’s flagship store - a little pink thatched Cottage in Adare, Co. Limerick.
Looking for a Donegal Aran sweater? You’ll find it here, alongside moss green linen shirts, crios belts (a traditional multi-coloured woollen belt) and Irish sheepskin slippers. You can explore the brand’s latest designs in the illustrious surroundings of the Westbury Mall, just off Dublin’s bustling shopping area Grafton Street.
The heritage is right there in the title, Magee is a fifth-generation Irish family business specialising in tweed – even Sarah Jessica Parker is a fan of the Donegal-based brand.