Ennis milliners make Kerry awards shortlist

TWO Ennis milliners were this week named as finalists in the Kerry Fashion Weekend Awards 2012. Sinead Madden, who took up millinery just three months ago, and well-known Galway-based milliner Fiona Mangan both made the illustrious shortlist.
Sinead embarked on designing and creating headpieces in January. As a qualified interior designer, creativity has always played centre stage in Sinead’s life. The idea of hat making became an unfound love affair after been introduced by Lina Stein in Oct 2011, when Sinead attended a workshop with the talented creator of the hat worn by Suzanne McGarry, winner of best dressed lady at Galway 2011.
According to Sinead, her love of arts and crafts, especially crochet, embroidery and knitting, began as a child with some off her work winning local awards. After leaving school, she went on to study interior design with Rhodec International London and worked in the industry for many years. With interior design work scarce and her love for colour and creativity, Sinead researched courses in millinery and has not looked back.
Fiona is one of the fastest growing names in Irish millinery and has been turning heads with her visually captivating headwear. She set up her label less than two years ago and has been short-listed for three prestigious fashion awards in 2011 and shortlisted for the second year in-a-row for the Fashion Innovation Awards in 2012, which is taking place this month.
Fiona has a degree in architecture from DIT Bolton Street, Dublin and practised as an architect for 10 years. With the downturn in the construction industry, she switched her design focus to her life-long passion, fashion. For the most part, Fiona is self trained, although she completed some dress design and millinery tuition.
Fiona’s headwear, she says, reflects the modern woman, “the delicate, ethereal female, that is still edgy, strong and unyielding”.
Another milliner shortlisted for the awards is Loughrea’s Suzie Mahony. Over the last five years she has created a name for herself both nationally and internationally as the milliner of choice for ladies attending glamorous events, from weddings to race meetings.
Suzie’s collections are available in many leading boutiques throughout Ireland and her regular pop-up shop at House of Fraser in Dundrum has drawn fashionistas nationwide. 2012 saw Suzie showing her collection at Showcase Ireland in the RDS, where she secured international interest in her designs.
“We are delighted to report that we received an exceptional number and standard of entries this year. This is testament to the amazing creative designer talent in Ireland today and also the ongoing support of IMAGE magazine and Killarney Crystal, as well as the valued exposure given to KFW by the media and the support and goodwill of businesses in Kerry,” a spokesperson for the event said.
The winners will be announced at the KFW Fashion Awards at the Pavilion at Ballygarry House Hotel next Thursday.