Now in its 13th year, BT Create is an ambitious showcase of up-and-coming Irish creative design, with a varied selection of new brands across fashion, homewear, footwear and more. Running from 6 July to 20 August, the showcase is open in Brown Thomas's Grafton St store.
We caught up with Brown Thomas Fashion Director Shelly Corkery to discuss the common thread running through Irish fashion, trends for the incoming Fall/Winter season and how to nail your wedding guest outfit this summer. Watch the video above.
Stay Tuned. CREATE returns tomorrow, celebrating the best and brightest designers in Ireland.
— Brown Thomas (@brownthomas) July 5, 2023
Explore the curated collection of designers online and in store tomorrow from 10am.
#BrownThomas#CREATE pic.twitter.com/9u0UXG5OTR
Calling it an "amazing celebration of Irish fashion", Corkery said that Create is "probably one of the biggest projects we work on here at Brown Thomas, and the whole ethos behind it is all about the celebration of the success of Irish designers".
Irish design is having a moment thanks to the success of Irish creatives Simone Rocha and more on the world stage. With such diverse interpretations of Irish design and what it means to be an Irish designer today, Corkery's take is that we've honed in on what we're especially good at.
"I think what we have done here is really focus on the DNA of the creativity of fashion and I think every designer has done their own thing", she said. "For instance, Urban Aran, she would have been focusing on colour and print and obviously her knitwear. Then you've got all the jewellery designers from a different point of view celebrating maybe it's gemstones or whatever materials they're using, celebrating in different terms of sustainability."
Among them are Shock of Grey who creates vibrant pieces out of ethically sourced wood; Siadbh and their delicate crystal pieces designed to sit close to the body; and Magpie Rose, who creates statement gemstone pieces in a variety of shades.
Shock of Grey makes bold, unique, handcrafted statement jewellery from unpredictable materials like wood, brass, plastic, silicone & clay. Finished jewellery comes in sustainable & recyclable packaging. All handmade in Dublin https://t.co/nGDyM4lCal @RyanTubridyShow #supportlocal pic.twitter.com/yfbCqkzdiE
— Shock of Grey (@shockofgreyshop) October 21, 2020
"The key trends are always there but they're very diverse in their own way. So whether it's knitwear or whether it's ready to wear, I think the celebration is the designers are very true to themselves and the core DNA of every brand", Corkery added.
Among the designers this year is Sara O'Neill, who designed the outfits worn by the stars of An Irish Goodbye at the Oscars, Baftas and IFTAs and has had her textile artwork bought by the Ulster Museum. Her work features expressive prints inspired by lockdown, featuring wildflowers and forest creatures.
Sarah Caine, who creates ethereal pieces in Victorian-inspired lace, also featured in this year's showcase. She's also a member of the team working on the Brown Thomas team, something close to Corkery's heart.
"To me, that's incredible to see that she's actually made it to the project. They do have to go through an interview stage to get there, and how she got through for me was her focus on her materials, her silk toiles and her vintage lace, all intermixed created that feminine glamour, which is very much in keeping with the trends but it's her way."
Intended as a platform for fledgling designers, Corkery added that with Create "we're always looking for the next up and coming success story and that's why the balance of this project is very important too. There's such a huge focus on ready-to-wear, jewellery, homeware, footwear and then we have a candle designer as well."
As for what we'll be wearing once Fall/Winter arrives, Corkery pointed to hourglass shapes, bold colours and old-school tailoring.
"There's a big focus on feminine glamour and all of that hourglass shape is very important. I think there's references to the 40s in brands like Balmain and you see a big focus on that oversized shoulder coming through from Saint Laurent", she said.
"All that sartorial fashion, pinstripe oversized jackets with tiny little skinny slip pencil skirts. Again, feminine contrasting with the masculine glamour.
"Red, I think is the key colour for the season. We saw a lot of red coming through and a lot of the designers saw it as the punch of colour within every collection."
With wedding season in full swing, we couldn't miss an opportunity to ask Corkery her style tips for wedding guest looks.
"I always think it's nice to keep it quite simple. A magnificent dress is very important. The length for me is very important, I think that's where fashion has changed. We're moving on from that midi length and definitely it's a little bit longer", she said.
"Colour is really important for an occasion, whether it's that beautiful bright red for the winter for instance or anything from scarlet right to burgundy.
"It's glamour, it's not being too embellished and this year it's more about high shine and metallics, mixing metals rather than the really over-embellished glitters and everything.
"There's definitely a sophistication about fashion this season, so I think it's about keeping it clean, less is more, keeping it feminine and keeping it colourful and innovative."
