JUDGES CHOOSE 12 FINALISTS FOR DUBLIN FASHION FESTIVAL 2015 YOUNG DESIGNER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The hunt was on today to find the most talented young designers of 2015 by Dublin Fashion Festival. Following the success of last year’s competition, Ireland’s leading fashion commentators, icons, designers and buyers gathered in the stylish surroundings of The Westbury Dublin to wade through the 2015 entries and whittle them down to just 12 finalists.
Searching for the most creative and innovative designs that can own the runway, the Dublin Fashion Festival Young Designer of the Year judging panel includes the Irish Independent’s fashion editor, Bairbre Power; renowned fashion photographer, Barry McCall; TV3 Xpose producer Debbie O’ Donnell; Aisling Kilduff, Owner of the Design Centre; Deirdre Devaney, Ladies Fashion Director, Arnotts and Caroline Hanratty, Head of Personal and Private Shopping, Brown Thomas.
The final 12 designers will take part in a spectacular catwalk show outside Bank of Ireland on College Green on Wednesday, 9th September. The final 12 designers chosen are:
- Ailbhe Doyle – NCAD
- Aime O’ Shea – The Mallow College of Fashion and Tailoring
- Ally Nolan – National College of Art and Design
- Anne Cantillon Linnane – Mallow College of Design and Tailoring
- Emma Curtis – St Angela’s College, Sligo
- Helen Hayes- Grafton Academy of Fashion Design
- Katie Donohoe- Griffith College Dublin
- Lamis Goumaa – Griffith College Dublin
- Marcelo Rodrigues – Dublin Institute of Design
- Roisin Lawrence – Griffith College, Dublin
- Siri Mattsson – Ulster University
- Stephen McLoughlin – Limerick School of Art & Design
The designers’ pieces will be showcased in front of an invited audience of key fashion influencers including press, fashion buyers and established designers, as they compete for the title of Young Designer of the Year in one of Ireland’s largest and most renowned fashion events.
Speaking at the judging session, festival director Clyde Carroll commented, “Once again, the entries for this year’s competition have been of an exceptional standard. Ireland has a wealth of design talent, which is easily seen in the stores and boutiques nationwide, especially all along the Creative Quarter in the city centre. DublinTown is delighted to champion Irish design talent at its earliest stage through the Young Designer of the Year Award. It is so important that we all continue to support Irish design from students just coming out of college to those who have opened their first store.”
