I was invited into to the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards 2016 by the Into the West Blogger Network & Galway Now Magazine and I was delighted to be asked as the awards are a big event in the Irish Fashion Calendar. The event showcases some of Ireland’s best designers and there are several prestigious awards that are presented on the night including Student Designer of the Year, Accessory Designer of the Year, Jewellery Designer of the Year, Millinery Designer of the Year, Fashion Designer of the Year and finally the overall Innovation Award Winner 2016. The awards are really a rite of passage for many designers and really showcases the creativity and talent of many Irish designers.
The event is in it’s seventh year and was held in the beautiful Radisson Blu Hotel and we were spoiled from the moment that we arrived. The hotel is just perfect for events like this – central, luxurious, has a beautiful ballroom and the staff are always so welcoming. It was great catching up with some of the other ITWBN bloggers and also chatting to designer Rebecca Marsden with whom I recently interviewed.
One of the highlights of the night for me was actually getting to meet and chat with designer Hazel Greene, you may remember that I interviewed here and she is just so warm and friendly in person. I was wearing one of her pieces and she spotted me from across the foyer! It was great to discuss more about her pieces and what winning the award last year meant to her. It was such a pleasure meeting her and Hazel if you are reading this expect another order soon – your pieces are just beautiful 🙂
And the Winners were:
- Student Designer of the Year 2016 – Colin Burke from NCAD
- Accessory Designer of the Year 2016 – Dee Mangan from Kinsale Leather
- Jewellery Designer of the Year 2016 – Emma Bourke
- Millinery Designer of the Year 2016 – Elaine Keogh
- Fashion Designer of the Year 2016 – Carla Johnson from Mona Swims
- Overall Innovation Award Winner 2016 – Carla Johnson from Mona Swims
There was so much talent on show and I honestly don’t know how they chose the winners! The amount of creative flair, style and visually stunning aesthetics was just breathtaking. Everyone had their favourites of the night – I know that Saibh loved Fintan Mullholland’s creations, Colette liked the ‘the dreamy Westwoodesque work of Colin Burke from NCAD‘ and I fell in love with so many pieces from the creations of Sligo student designer Jade Reidy, to the millinery creations by Caithriona King, to the magical scarves by Hazel Greene to the monochrome delights from Mairead Whisker to the sensual swimwear by Mona Swims and need I mention the elegant designs from Heidi Higgins – I fell head over heels for her pieces.
A special mention has to be given to Patricia Mc Crossan and her team at Galway Now and Golden Egg Productions, the event was amazing and this was mostly down to their hard work and getting all in order so that the night ran smoothly and everyone left smiling to then go and enjoy the amazing talent of the Amazing Apples and let their hair down in the Veranda room !
And here are some of the other fabulous Into the West Blogger Network bloggers that attended as VIPs to the event. I have linked all of them to their blogs so you can check out some amazing blogging talent! 🙂
And lastly I will leave you with some more images from the Awards – there is certainly so many talented Irish Designers – both established and emerging and I for one am very excited about the future of Irish Fashion & Design.
A massive thank you to Sinead and Saibh & Galway Now for inviting me to the event – it was just amazing and will probably be my fashion highlight of the year!
