Dublin Independent Fashion Week: Showcasing Creativity and Aisling Duffy's Vision
By Kate Greene
From the 11th until the 17th, Dublin was alive and buzzing with creativity and design as it hosted its second Dublin Independent Fashion Week (DIFW). This vibrant event brought together a wide range of designers and gave them a platform to showcase their unique styles and visions against the backdrop of Ireland’s rich cultural heritage. Ranging from avant-garde styles to sustainable fashion, the week celebrated the artistry of the collections and the story behind them, giving local talent centre stage.
With Ireland missing an official fashion week, DIFW fills the gap and provides a space for upcoming and established artists, as well as giving its audience and press an opportunity to network with like-minded people. It also highlights Dublin’s growing reputation as a dynamic hub for fashion and shows that designers do not have to move away from Ireland to fashion hubs abroad in order to have a career.
I attended the Aisling Duffy X Five One Seven Eight Fashion Show on Tuesday the 12th. Below are my takeaways from this innovative, incredible event.
Adorned in lilac and frills, singer Amy Michelle took centre stage as she set the scene for the fashion show, singing soft, beautiful melodies as the models floated by. The set was decorated in pinks and purples, with a giant rose coloured bow in the middle and white flowers scattered along the stage. The audience was silent as they absorbed the otherworldly fashion and atmosphere unfolding before their eyes.
Aisling Duffy’s clothing has always been influenced by music and subculture. She creates the clothes that she would have worn growing up in the 90’s and 2000’s but was not able to find. She loves patchwork fabrics and ribbons, crafting baby doll dresses and even bags out of colourful, patterned materials. The fashion show saw a wide range of fabrics, such as tulle, satin, and lace, shown off in front of a sunlit studio.
Aisling Duffy’s personal style is eclectic and original, where she mixes contemporary and vintage together to create a unique look. She spends time exploring colour palettes to make the collection flow. In this collection, she uses pastels and floral designs to create a cohesive line-up that compliment each other without being too similar.
Each of Aisling Duffy’s pieces are created ethically and sustainably. They are all expertly handmade and never overproduced, and most of the materials used are upcycled or vintage, with the rest being her own printed designs on sustainable fabrics. Her fashion shows that sustainable fashion is not boring and can be expressive, fun, and colourful.
Aisling Duffy’s fashion brings an air of playfulness, elegance, expression, and joy that is so important in fashion design. Its sustainability is a reminder to create and shop ethically and that it can make fashion more interesting and unique. It also shows that if you follow your own style and create what you love, you will not go wrong and you can share a piece of your heart with others.
