NCAD Graduate Gallery

23 outstanding outfits, by 18 NCAD Fashion & Textile graduates are currently on display at the newly refurbished NCAD building on Thomas Street. The building itself is one part disused fire station and one part glass fronted modern architecture and is situated opposite the Vicar Street venue. When I was there this afternoon, I watched as people stopped in the street and stared through the giant glass windows at the designs inside. The gallery space is very simple with each design hung on a mannequin and the atmosphere is created by a television on one wall showing interviews with the young designers.

These students have already shown what talented designers and artisans they are having featured heavily in the Nokia Young Fashion Designer Awards. Then it was revealed that Rebecca Flanagan won the prestigious River Island student Bursary award and showcased her designs in the window of River Island Henry Street. Then only a couple of weeks ago, Clare Geraghty was invited to showcase and sell her designs in the Circus Boutique, D2. Read on and see pics…

Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award Winner

The old Habitat building on Dame Street had never seen action like it when Dublin’s fashion crowd were seen queuing to get in yesterday evening. Even when the shop was open I doubt there was ever such a crowd inside it’s walls. The venue had been decked out fabulously and the Perrier Mojitos were in full flow as Dublin’s fash’ pack studied each other before being ushered to the catwalk.

Models and student designers mingled with judges and media types as front row (FROW) seats were fought for. The event was such a success that half the audience were unable to sit and had to stand behind the gathered ‘beautiful people’. Brendan Courtney introduced the designs from the 20 finalist’s which were all presented to us in a fantastic opening runway show.

The mood boards for each design had been displayed for us to view before the show and were works of art in their own right. It was as they moved along the runway, however, that we were able to see just how much detail, skill and talent had gone into each stunning creation.