Eleven Irish designers will showcase their work at London Fashion Week in September 2015, under the auspices of Unfold, an initiative of Irish Design 2015.

In line with the commercialisation and internationalisation objectives of ID2015, Unfold will be presented at the Institute of Contemporary Arts on September 18 and 19.

The 11 designers unveiling their Spring and Summer 2016 collections as part of Unfold will be Natalie Coleman, We Are Islanders, Emma Manley, Jill de Burca, Helen Steele, Honor Fitzsimons, Chupi, Maria Dorai Raj, Laura Kinsella, Martha Lynn and Capulet & Montague.

The selection of these 11 designers across womenswear, accessories, fine jewellery and millinery was chosen by a judging panel consisting of ID2015, Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, and international buyers and media, following a call out earlier this year with over 40 applications.

Each of the successful applicants is being supported an international industry mentoring panel in developing their SS16 collections for presentation at London Fashion Week.

In Association with

Karen Hennessy, chief executive of ID2015, said: “Through the Irish Design 2015 programme, we are seeing real commercial opportunities emerge for developing international markets. These designers have the ambition and capability to expand into international markets.”

Unfold Designers

Capulet and Montague
‘Progressing and evolving’ is how Lisa McCormack (pictured below) describes her jewellery label Capulet & Montague, launching her first collection in 2012. McCormack won the Irish Fashion Innovation Award for Jewellery Designer of the year 2015.

Chupi
Chupi is an Irish designer, making delicate gold jewellery inspired by the beauty of natural and wild things. When Chupi was 21, she was scouted by Topshop from her first year of college, the youngest designer to ever to work with them. Her jewellery is made for your inner magpie, delicate pieces in sparkling gold and the shiniest semi¬precious gems. Each piece is made with love in Ireland.

Helen Steele
The Helen Steele label was established in 2011 as a sister company to Silverhill Feathers, by Helen Steele and her husband Stuart Steele, CEO of Silverhill Farm in Monaghan the home of Irish duck. The first collection of WART (wearable art) was shown at London and Paris fashion weeks for Spring Summer 2012. Since then, the company has doubled its sales season after season.

Honor Fitzsimons
Honor Fitzsimons cut her teeth at Louise Goldin, DVF, and Peachoo + Krejberg in Paris before returning home to Ireland to establish her eponymous label. Through a juxtaposition of unconventional materials, innovative use of traditional textile techniques, and conceptual use of colour Honor Fitzsimons strives to push the boundaries of contemporary fashion and knitwear design.

Maria Doria Raj
Her eclectic Irish-Indian heritage is reflected in the ethos of dorai, which fuses modern design with traditional, superbly executed craftsmanship. Maria (pictured below) fell in love with the art of jewellery making at the Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewellery in Florence, Italy, where she learned the goldsmithing techniques she uses today.

Jill de Burca
Her pieces are crafted by hand using intricate embroidery stitched with an antique Irish singer embroidery machine and hand embellishment. Digital silk printing and interesting fabric combinations are key elements throughout the collections. Despite the meticulous details, the clothes remain very wearable with a beautiful sports luxe edge.

Laura Kinsella
Laura Kinsella creates individual, exquisite and abstract hats, headpieces and accessories, by traditional technique in her Dublin-based studio. Throughout 2014 Laura collaborated with Irish designer Danielle Romeril on both her spring/summer 2014 and 2015 collections.

Manley
Manley was founded by designer Emma Manley (pictured below) in 2010, who after honing her craft at VPL in NYC and Alexander McQueen in London, was eager to curate a new and relevant fashion offering for the womenswear arena. Quality of fabric and production is at the core of Manley. Innovative manufacturing methods are fused with time-honoured, hand-sewn and embellished detailing.

Martha Lynn
Martha Lynn’s millinery has an innovative feel as she uses contemporary materials, such as vinyl and perspex with a reduced structure of colour. She strives to include touches of paired back elegance and playfulness as she combines traditional millinery skills with modern silhouettes, bold contrasts and clean lines.

NATALIEBCOLEMAN 
With a background in strong narratives and quirky romance Natalie creates beautiful, feminine, contemporary, flirtatious looks with special attention to finish, fabric and detail.

We Are Islanders
Creative director Rosie O'Reilly works as a visual artists, maker and designer. Rosie is co-founder of Re-dress.ie – Ireland's sustainable fashion body.