London-based designer Amy Winters works at the very intersection of fashion and technology. Collaborating with scientists and using smart textiles, Winters has created show-stopping performance pieces, such as sound-reactive dresses. Still, her label, Rainbow Winters, offers something for everyday fashionistas, as she combines elegant design with vibrant, new technologies.
By Briana Palma
Dublin Ireland
www.brianapalma.com
Style-Eyes is using the latest image recognition technology to bring digital fashion retail to the next level. The free app is designed to be a useful tool for both shoppers and retailers, providing a novel way to search for clothes and accessories, wherever you are, whenever you want.
An innovative boutique-café in downtown Dublin, Tamp & Stitch seamlessly unites coffee and fashion. Since opening last May, the owners have worked to create a new destination for Dubliners by offering quality coffee and unique, affordable fashion brands in a neighbourhood that typically attracts tourists.
Since launching in 2010, designist has brought unique and affordable housewares and gifts to downtown Dublin. The shop has also established itself as an invaluable resource for local designers, as owners Barbara Nolan and Jennie Flynn look to support both up-and-coming and established Irish brands. This summer, designist is using the ever-popular pop-up shop to shout about Irish design.
Since 2009, mother-daughter duo Nicola Orriss and Georgia Scott have been making the wet Irish weather a bit more bearable. Their product range, Georgia in Dublin, has given rainy days a new look with versatile and sophisticated designs.
Claire O'Connor found herself taking an impromptu step into the world of bridal wear in 2011. One year later, after receiving a warm reception from the public and plenty of private commissions, she's ready to take the leap - and make a splash - into Ireland's wedding industry. Her first official bridal wear collection is set to launch this summer.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Mario Testino has become one of the world's most renowned fashion and portrait photographers. His professional achievements include such highlights as photographing Princess Diana in her last official sitting and helping shape iconic ad campaigns for Versace. On October 21, added to that list was the opening of his first major American exhibition, at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.
SoWa Vintage Market has gone from being a summertime event to a year-round destination. Housed in an old, brick factory building in one of Boston's growing cultural neighbourhoods, it continues to offer a fresh take on items from the past every Sunday.
This year marks the fifth edition of Dublin's Better Fashion Week, one of the Irish capital's largest fashion events. The project brings ethics and sustainability to the forefront with a series of talks, presentations and films from April 23 to 30, 2012. The addition of the Better Fashion Shop for 2012 has provided the city with tangible proof that style and ethics do, in fact, go together.
Granny's Finest, a young fashion-focused foundation with a social conscience, is tackling the issue of loneliness among the elderly with its unique approach to knitwear production. Briana Palma speaks with founder Niek van Hengel about the fashion brand that is uniting generations.
One year ago, Project51 opened on Dublin's South William Street, bringing the concept of the design collective to Ireland. Developed and founded by jeweller Eoin McDonnell, Project51 is a dynamic place that includes workspaces as well as a carefully curated boutique. Although the collective is still in its infancy, it is already making its mark on Ireland's fashion industry.
While Dublin is one city without a Mercedes-Benz fashion week, style takes over the Irish capital during the annual Dublin Fashion Festival. This year's edition, which took place from September 6 to 9, saw high fashion and the High Street come together in a series of events, including master classes, workshops, runway shows and more.
New York City-based technologist and artist Adam Harvey experiments with the idea of privacy through fashion. His newest project, the Stealth Wear collection, includes luxurious anti-drone garments for what Harvey describes as "the golden age of surveillance."
The Design Museum Boston's latest project asked designers around the world to apply their creativity to the urban seating. The result is 19 innovative benches that are presently on display in the city's Fort Point neighbourhood. Briana Palma takes a seat and takes in the view.
At October's Peroni Moda Awards, Northern Irish knitwear designer, Mary Callan, wowed with a handcrafted wool dress inspired by the beer's famous Blue Ribbon label. As part of her prize, she had the opportunity to work with Marco de Vincenzo in the days leading up to Milan Fashion Week.
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