CREATIVE designs have earned East Clare’s Ailish McElroy a place in a showcase launched this month by the Council of Irish Fashion Designers (CIFD).
The Bodyke woman’s stunning hats and handcrafted head pieces feature in the Spring/Summer 2022 showcase ,which premiered on CIFD’s YouTube channel, and is still available to view. The showcase underlines what Irish designers have to offer, and provides an opportunity to highlight new collections to the fashion press and potential buyers.
The CIFD now represents 52 Irish designers across the categories of fashion, accessories, jewellery, millinery and childrenswear. Ailish’s award-winning pieces are among the work of 40 different designers across Ireland who presented their collections in the digital collections film for the coming season.
Ailish’s designs feature handcrafted camellias in luxurious gold and silver leathers and luxurious fabrics provide the basis for eye catching design and craftmanship; collectable pieces to cherish for seasons to come. Ailish takes her inspiration from many sources including history, fine art and the beauty of the Irish landscape in her work. Her unique designs have been celebrated and worn all over the world to special events, weddings in Ireland and abroad, the vibrant Irish racing scene, the Melbourne Cup and Royal Ascot. Her work is regularly showcased at fashion shows across the country.
“It’s been wonderful to see my studio come alive again with orders as the wedding season gets underway once again,” she said. “My customers recognise the value in hand crafted products and supporting local and its been great to see some familiar faces returning to me after a very challenging couple of years where a lot of social occasions had to be cancelled and re-scheduled. I offer a very personal service, working closely with each customer to design a headpiece that not only suits the person and the outfit. My goal is to design beautiful headpieces that make every occasion special creating a beautiful memory for each client to cherish.”
Private appointments enable Ailish to give her full attention to her clients enabling them to browse and try shapes to suit them in a relaxing environment. She encourages her clients to bring their outfits to appointments to ensure the right headpiece is chosen to beautifully compliment the entire ensemble and the woman.
Many CIFD members provide bespoke design services that span a range from creative simplicity to innovation and complexity. The council has recently become a member of Guaranteed Irish and is proud to be a partner in promoting local jobs in Ireland.