Shoot Happens: Oliver's Armour Is Here To Stay

Remember the name Oliver Doherty Duncan, because this boy is on track to be a huge star. A native of Ballyharry in the north of Donegal, the 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.
Inspired by his mother and sister’s love of fashion, Oliver completed a foundation year in Art and Design before taking a Higher National Diploma in Fashion and Textiles in the North West Regional College, Derry. He then went on to study fashion and textiles in the University of Ulster, Belfast and graduated with a first class honours degree. Oliver’s natural talent for working with interesting textiles was evident early, and his designs also demonstrate an appreciation for, and desire to flatter, the female form.
“I’m inspired by nature and the complexity of human anatomy,” says Oliver. “I aspire to engineer a unique method of design that examines the body. I employ macramé and different weaving techniques, exaggerating certain areas of the figure to re-imagine the female form. I allow the body to determine the shape and structure of my pieces and let them grow organically into the finished three-dimensional art pieces. This combined with the marriage of traditional craft and modern fashion design causes a transformative relationship between the constructed garment and the body beneath and challenges conventional perceptions.”
Oliver has made several appearances on high-profile fashion shows and design showcases, and was 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 this year’s IFTAs afterparty, and Oliver also made a neckpiece for Ireland’s Eurovision entry this year.
One of Oliver’s biggest achievements was landing a job as a designer on Game of Thrones. “I help to make everything ‘North of the Wall’”, Oliver explains. “This means I work on the Wildlings and Giants. The thing I love most is how creative I get to be. Every costume is unique and has its own story. Currently, I’m between seasons on Game of Thrones and for the last few months I’ve been living in London working on a new feature film for Warner Brothers.”
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.