A home for Irish CREATIONS

Brown Thomas gives 20 stylists the seal of approval, welcoming them back to the Designer Rooms for the annual CREATE exhibition

THERE’S something incredibly special about locally curated exhibitions. They unite homegrown artists, designers and craft makers and bring together a sense of community and shared values.

CREATE at Brown Thomas, in particular, always has an essence of togetherness, of like-minded people supporting one another. Dublin may be small and under the radar in comparison to other fashion capitals, but every year we give birth to a new generation of young, edgy, design hopefuls and we recognise the old set working tirelessly to grow their business.

The brainchild of BT’s creative director Shelley Corkery, CREATE has featured over 80 Irish designers, giving them a platform to showcase and sell their work.

For four weeks in July, the department store changes its Designer Rooms to make space for indigenous projects. This year it includes two NCAD alumni — winner of the Brown Thomas One to Watch bursary award Laoise Carey and runner-up Colin Burke.

Alongside the graduates is effervescent scarf designer Sarah Swan, whose Cuban-themed vibrant cotton designs feature her own personal shots taken of Havana street life along with striking art deco architecture; Ale Walsh, the fiercely talented designer who has created zesty prints using natural textures on handbags; and Sarah Murphy, who crafts beautiful romantic tulle dresses that are weaved with Aran wool.

Other newcomers include knitwear designer Lainey Keogh, whose collection of dusty pastel bespoke cashmere knits will delight long-time fans.

Also included are legendary designer Mariad Whisker, who has won Irish women’s hearts for her long fluid architectural shapes, and jewellery designer Bláithín Ennis, a favourite of the Kilkenny store, who incorporates rose gold and blue stone into her collection this season, inspired by her home on the Wexford coast.

Joining them is stylist and designer Sara O’Neill, founder of label Eadach — her range of kimonos in Irish mythical prints are particularly special and worth every cent.

‘The bar has certainly been raised this year,’ Corkery says. ‘The level of talent coming through is really exceptional. It’s very exciting to deliver new and diverse collections to our customers.’

The CREATE exhibition may only be seven years old but it’s gaining more and more momentum every year — proof that indigenous design will never go out of fashion.