A fortnight of fashion in Ennis

CLARE is bracing itself for the biggest fashion event of the year, which is taking place next month. Ennis Fashion Fortnight runs from October 9 to 22 and is set to be bigger and better then ever before.
The county town, which is cultivating a reputation as the Boutique Capital of Ireland, will bring its wide range of unique retailers together for a series of special events and in-store promotions for customers.
Events over the fortnight include the Ennis Fashion Award for the most stylish woman in Ennis; a supper fashion movie, Valentino – The Last Emperor in conjunction with Cahercalla Hospice; a fashion show featuring Ennis’s autumn/winter collection with guest designer Eilis Boyle and Amber Jean Rowan of RTÉ’s The Model Agent and A Real Clothes for Real People fashion show for women and men of all shapes and sizes.
There will also be late night openings in participating stores, as well as a health and wellness evening and the annual design student competition from Limerick College of Art and Design.
Further treats for fashion lovers will be the Fashion Photo Exhibition Trail by fashion photographer Patrick McHugh, as well as the Winter Wonderland Fashion photo exhibition by Caitriona Fogarty.
There will also be a jazz brunch, coffee mornings and make-up demonstrations during the week.
There will be numerous in-store events such as mini-shows, demonstrations, consultations, special offers, packages, free gifts and prize draws.
Speaking about the upcoming event, renowned retail and fashion consultant, Eddie Shanahan said, “I’m delighted to be involved in this fantastic initiative. I held a seminar in the summer for the retailers of Ennis and the outcome was to create a fortnight of fashion as previously it had been a seven-day festival and we wanted to give people time to go to all the events and really get involved.
“I also wanted to bring this festival onto the next level by improving its external communications and expand into the wider community,” he said.
A number of public and private enterprises have organised tailored fringe events to coincide with this festival of fashion, including a fashion lecture, photography exhibitions and health talks for the whole town to enjoy.
For a full programme of events for Ennis Fashion Fortnight, see www.ennisfashion.ie