Fashion Designers: Ones to watch 2015

ZOE CAROL
A Ballinasloe native, designer Zoe Carol studied science before moving to New York City to study Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design. Following her graduation in 2009 she worked with several hugely respected international brands – TSE, Libra Leather and Pour La Victoire. It was during this period of apprenticeship that Zoë cultivated her knowledge of craftsmanship and raw materials, working in the fields of knitwear design, leather and shoe design. This innate respect for form, tempered with a modern sophistication, is evident throughout her work. In 2010 she explored the world of retail with her much-loved vintage store, Horse & June. After three years of invaluable experience at the buying/sales coalface she folded the operation to concentrate upon her eponymous label, Zoë Carol. Her designs are garnering much-deserved international acclaim, and Carol had a showcase in the RDS just this month to display and celebrate her stunning new designs and her upcoming Autumn Winter 2015 collection.
Zoë Carol is stocked in Atelier 27 (First Floor Om Diva, 27 Drury Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6791211) and Maven (First Floor, 29 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-478 9226). The Zoë Carol E-boutique will also be launched this season with the key pieces from the latest collection. See www.zoecarol.com for more information.

OLIVER DUNCAN DOHERTY
One of the most exciting design talents to emerge from Ireland in years, Donegal-born designer Oliver Duncan Doherty designer is not only becoming a fast favourite of celebrities and fashionistas, but is also bringing his incredible and unique creations to both the small and big screen, working as a costume designer for Game of Thrones and some upcoming Hollywood films. And we’re not surprised that the big fashion guns are sitting up and taking notice, because Oliver’s pieces combine elements of the fantastical with a modern edge to create truly striking creations. Combining macramé and weaving techniques to create pieces sophisticated in form but with a raw, naturalistic quality, his designs placed in the top five of a worldwide competition to design a stage costume for Florence and the Machine, receiving worldwide publicity. He was also a contestant on RTE’s television show Craft Master. His celebrity fans include Laura Whitmore, who wore one of Oliver’s designs at the 2014 IFTAs afterparty, and Oliver also made a neckpiece for Ireland’s Eurovision entry this year.
Oliver Duncan Doherty’s designs are currently on sale in the Design Centre in Powerscourt Townhouse Shopping Centre in Dublin. You can also check out his designs on his blog and Facebook page: OliverDoherty. tumblr.com and Facebook.com/ OliverDuncanDohertyFashionTextile

DAVID O’MALLEY
Since graduating from NCAD, multi-talented designer David O’Malley has had an unprecedented response to his work, which he showcased at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He has become a favourite of celebrity fashionistas like Laura Whitmore and Jena Byrne, who wore one of David’s designs to the VIP Style Awards this year. His work has also been featured in music videos, and he had performance outfits commissioned by Longitude, Electric Picnic and Cork Opera House last year. O’Malley’s collections are inspired by mathematical and scientific ideas as well as strong visual themes, such as his last collection Entropy, which was an arresting blend of geometrical shapes, monochrome pieces with a futuristic but flattering edge, and a hint of the occult. O’Malley uses his fashion career to explore other creative mediums, working with filmmakers such as Samuel Foxton to create atmospheric and eerily beautiful concept videos for his collections. O’Malley’s Entropy collection was hotly tipped at Vogue fashion festival and Berlin Fashion Film Festival as one to watch, so we’ve no doubt O’Malley will be lighting the fashion world on fire very, very soon.
David O’Malley’s collection is now available to buy at the Design Centre in Powerscourt Townhouse shopping centre. For more information see davidomalleydesign.com