Reverse The Trend with Orlaith Carroll: "Consumerism is never gonna go away, but it's about trying to slow down and reduce the frenzy of it"

Orlaith Carroll

Fashion designer and owner of bridal boutique, The Attic

When you're doing a bespoke dress, you make what's called a toile - it's a fake version of the dress. I try and create those versions with scraps of leftover fabric. I save every bit of fabric scrap, so that if I can use small pieces of it in the actual garment, it means it's not going in the rubbish.

Anything we buy in the store goes through a fitting process, where a lot of fake versions of it are made prior to the real thing being finished and produced. It's trying to minimise your waste in that section. The sample dresses that are retired and aren't being sold anymore can be bought off the rack, which is a great sustainable option for brides who have a lower budget, or don't want to create another garment in the world.

A big thing I feel is trying not to follow the trends that you see. Maybe buy one piece this year, invest in a piece from a sustainable company, then build your wardrobe gradually over the next few years consciously. The thing is to slow down your shopping habits. Another amazing option is going into Zip Yard - they will re-customise clothes for you.

It's like getting something you love redesigned on a new lease of life. There's this idea around 'new being better', whereas I don't feel that's the case. The quality of clothes that are coming out of some of the high street shops are absolutely horrific. That's the kind of mentality that needs to change. Consumerism is never gonna go away, but it's about trying to slow down and reduce the frenzy of it.

Visit Orlaith's boutique The Attic to discover bridal gowns made by talented designers. theatticbridalwearboutique.com

It’s time to Reverse the Trend. Recent research from the Environmental Protection Agency has revealed we should be doing more to make sustainable decisions when it comes to fashion.

With the ongoing climate crisis, it’s never been more important for us to think about our purchasing habits more consciously. It’s time to buy less, choose well, and look after our clothes - to get the most out of them.

Thinking sustainably presents us with the opportunity to be more inventive, more thoughtful, and more ethical in what we wear. Borrowing clothes from friends, going to swap shops, buying from charity shops, and renting clothes are just some of the innumerable ways in which we can rewrite the narrative when it comes to being on trend and looking fashionable, while also having fun and being creative!

We spoke to influencers, local musicians, designers and artists about sustainability - and what it means to them. Read the full feature in the Hot Press Annual 2025