Zeitgeisty fashion trends come and go in an instant, and for the most exciting Irish brands of the moment, so too do their hottest drops.
Ireland has always been a key player in design, from heritage lace production and artisanal fabrics, to the likes of designers Simone Rocha and JW Anderson making waves across the world. The newest wave of Irish designers are proving just as innovative, with many of them stepping into arenas of their own making by selling pieces in online 'drops'.
These fleeting collections are often very limited, giving each one an aura of particular rarity. As well as being scarce, they're also beautifully designed, often with an emphasis on sustainability.
So whether you want to keep your finger on the pulse of Irish design and support independent creators, or you just want to feel like you fit in on Drury St despite being over 30, these are the brands to turn on Instagram notifications for.
Sewphie
Blokecore meets balletcore, is how designer Sophie Murray once described her designs, and that is exactly what these are. Beloved by everyone from CMAT to Angela Scanlon, Murray's range of reworked GAA shorts and jerseys skirt the line between Paul Mescal buying cans and a coquettish TikTok baddie who loves martinis and a Caesar salad. From ruched jerseys to classic shorts fringed with broderie Anglaise and lace, we can't get enough of these designs.
Excitingly, Sewphie will be running its first in-store pop up this month, taking up residence in Urban Outfitters Dublin, 23-24 May.
Ditsy Bits
Founded by designer Emilie Williams in 2019, Ditsy Bits has gone from strength to strength. Made in Ireland and specialising in everyday pieces with a kitschy Irish twist, Williams' designs lean into Irish iconography: Claddagh rings, Irish stamps and, of course, the humble pint.
The designs are so coveted that a recent pop-up on 1 March saw hundreds of customers line the streets for the chance to nab one of their tees.
Pellador FC
Founded in 2022 by Limerick native Greg Hall, Pellador FC has become practically synonymous with a type of Irish street style: effortlessly cool, distinctly urban and subtly linked with Irish heritage. Their chunky knits come in a range of colours and patterns in each drop, with the most recent one featuring an homage to a traditional Celtic boardgame, fidchell.
DeBúrca Design
Orlaith DeBúrca's brand is another one that celebrates Irish iconography and history, spotlighting lesser known motifs like na Brídeoga, traditional rush dolls that would have been made across the country in the lead up to St Brigid’s day. Her designs also channel the return to Gaeilge that has been sweeping the country, with one design reading, "Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam", which translates to "a country without a language is a country without a soul".
Emporium
After a string of hugely successful pop-ups across Dublin, this streetwear brand has become an established name in the Irish fashion scene. Started by two friends Robbie Fidgeon Kavanagh and Charlie Proctor-Quigley, and how in its own brick-and-mortar location on Dublin's Drury Street, Emporium specialise in sustainably made pieces, from statement jumpers to sleek tees.
Myrne Collective
Although a resale site and not an original fashion brand, Myrne Collective has earned a spot on this list thanks to the absolute Irish heritage gems they've been able to source. Based out of Newry, Rachel Morgan has tapped into the desire for true vintage and homely pieces that let us wear our Irishness on our sleeves.
Drops don't happen often so you'll definitely want the Instagram notifications on for this one.
