From upcycled gowns and thrifted ties to Debs shoes and tuxedos, Irish nominees brought personality, humour and style to the TikTok Awards UK & Ireland.
The second-ever TikTok Awards UK & Ireland brought 72 nominees to London – twelve of them Irish – in a blur of livestream cameras, red-carpet choreography and creators perfecting the art of pose.
AJ Odudu hosted, Zainab Jiwa welcomed arrivals and performances from Rizzle Kicks, La Belle, and Abbie McCarthy filled the gaps between categories.
But amidst all the glitz and glamour, I was more interested in how the Irish nominees were feeling and – more importantly – what they were wearing…
Matthew and Michael Gardiner (@gardinerbrothers) arrived straight from the airport in matching Moss Bros suits paired with merino wool jumpers – outfits they hadn’t actually tried on until that afternoon.
"We literally ran from the airport," they said. "We had to just put them on quickly and luckily everything fitted perfectly, so we got away with it."
Creator of the Year nominee Miriam Mullins (@miriammullins_) wore a Baby Boo two-piece with Mango earrings and heels she has owned for a decade. "They’re from my Debs," she laughed. "It’s nice to bring them out again."
On her nomination, she said: "I couldn’t believe I got shortlisted – I wasn’t expecting it at all."
Abigail Parkinson (@abigailparkinson_) wore a structured orange House of CB dress. "I love that brand," she said. "You can always tell when a woman has designed a dress."
Eager to see fellow nominee Jenny’s gown, she added: "She told me what she was getting made – I’m dying to see her."
Jenny Claffey arrived in one of the night’s most thoughtful, creative looks: an upcycled dress created by designer Aisling Kavanagh.
"We went into St Vincent’s on George’s Street, bought a dress, and she completely upcycled it," Jenny explained. "She worked morning and night on this – she’s amazing."
Brad Bennett (@bben9450) centred his entire outfit around a thrifted shamrock tie. "I think anyone who buys ties brand new is crazy," he said. "There are so many great ties in vintage shops."
Impressively, everything except a single earring was thrifted – and that one earring was from Irish brand MoMuse. "In 2026, we should all be aiming more towards sustainable fashion."
Aghogho Okpara (@itsaghogho) wore a bright rented gown from Happy Days Rental. "It’s a sustainable fashion moment," she said. Speaking on her nomination as a Voice for Change, she said. "This means a lot – I’m really humbled."
She also explained why the collaboration mattered: "It’s nice to support young Irish designers… especially someone who’s so talented." And as for her category? "Books and Learning – it’s mad. I didn’t think people would care about books, but it’s really nice to see."
Matthew Weldon (@matthew.weldon), representing a generations-old jewellery legacy, spoke about the meaning behind his nomination: "It’s great to be here… we’ve been doing this for so long, and to be actually here because of that, it just feels amazing."
After I spied a glinting brooch on his blazer, he explained: "This one has a nice story," adding, "it’s a Wicklow-gold fibula brooch from 1840."
"The original is in the National History Museum," he said, emphasising the importance of purchasing pieces crafted to last long enough that they inherit stories.
Caolán Ward (@crayonward) opted for a velvet suit with satin lapels. "This is my first time at anything like this," he admitted. "Partly nervous, partly excited – the competitive spirit creeps in."
Jim Flano (@jimflano) wore a tux from Best Menswear. "I’d be wearing GAA shorts if I could," he joked. His fashion shoutout went to Pellador: "Their jumpers are unbelievable."
Christian Figuera (@higovisuals) wore a custom pearl-covered jacket representing the Philippines, Japanese trousers, an IPSC keffiyeh and Common Lanes shoes. "Everything I’m wearing represents a part of my story," he said.
Andrew Nolan (@rugbynause) wore his wedding suit. "A bit last-minute," he said. "I’m not a fashion guy." His advice for new creators: "Just start – no one sees the early stuff."
Food creator Cassie Stokes (@cassiestokes1111) wore Sandro boots, Reiss trousers and an oversized blazer. "Very last-minute job," she laughed. On the nominations, she remarked: "If even one of us Irish wins, it’s huge."
It’s Cassie Stokes, so I had to ask where she planned to stop by for some celebratory grub and a pint or two – she confirmed my suspicions: "I’m finally going to the Devonshire tomorrow."
For longer versions of all interviews, full outfit details and more behind-the-scenes moments, head to @rtelifestyle on TikTok and Instagram.
