GOODTIDINGSFROMNIAMH
NIAMH GILLISPIE, A MEMBER OF CREATIVE SPARK PRINT STUDIOS, FULFILS AMBITION BY LAUNCHING TIDINGS
Good Tidings are exactly what designer Niamh Gillispie is providing this season with the launch of her collection of silk scarves and pocket squares.
Niamh, who is a member of both the Creative Spark Print Studio and the Art as Exchange (AAEX) artists’ collective, has fulfilled a long held ambition with the launch of Tidings.
Having worked with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry over the past 20 years, including Paul Smith, Alexandra McQueen and Liberty of London, Niamh felt that the time was right to launch her own brand.
The inspiration for the brand came when she found a message in an old bottle while walking on the beach at Dunany close to her home.
‘I thought how nice it would be to send a message that can be worn - hence the name Tidings which is another word for a message,’ she explains.
For her debut collection, Niamh has combined her trademark typographical designs with florals, bright colours, and messages of positivity. She has collaborated with a family run Italian firm who produce the 100% hand-edged silk scarves and pocket squares on which she prints and hand paints her designs. Bearing messages such as ‘It’s Ok’, ‘Chin Up’ and ‘Be Kind’, Niamh feels that these beautiful accessories are just the thing to bring joy into people’s lives in these strange times.
‘ These are strange days and using fashion and art to share our feelings, send a message and focus on some optimism seems vital,’ she says. As the brand was created and launched during the various COVID-19 restrictions, Niamh says that she had to think outside the box when planning the photo shoot.
Rather than travelling somewhere exotic, Niamh says that they had to keep everything local. ‘We did the shoot around Dunany, on the coast and in the fields, using a local creative agency, photographer and models. In a way, it made us get more creative.’
The result is a stunning set of images, some of which you can see here, which showcase Niamh’s colourful and whimsical debut into the luxury fashion market.
The collection is already turning heads and has received favourable mentions in the fashion pages.
The lockdown and the move towards working from home has resulted in many people re-thinking their wardrobe. Rather than buying lots of fast fashion, Niamh feels women are keen to treat themselves to something nice - in this case a luxury item which will last many years.
She is delighted with the reaction to Tidings so far and says that lots of customers are buying the scarves as gifts for family members and friends.
‘ These are the perfect gift of optimism,’ she says, adding that they are beautifully packaged, making them ideal gifts for Christmas or other special occasions.
The collection is available from Sybil, Blackrock and online from www.tidings.ie