Description

The Irish have a long history of travelling, whether by choice or necessity, but always strive to retain a connection with home. Quilts and other textiles were often fashioned from recycled scraps and sent with relatives who were leaving, perhaps forever. Let’s Get Lost is inspired by my own road trips in the Pacific Northwest during the time I was living in British Columbia, Canada.

My practice is concerned with our throwaway attitude and questions why we keep some things above others. The aim is to produce textiles that are difficult to throw away, that celebrate disintegration and are created through deconstruction and repair. As far as possible I use natural fibres, vintage, remnant and locally sourced materials. These include Irish reared alpaca hair and wool from sheep from very close to where I grew up in Donegal. Traditional techniques combine with digital technologies to nurture craft-based design in a modern world in an attempt to alter the old-fashioned image of Irish textiles.

The pieces are designed and constructed in such a way that wear and tear may actually enhance the garment, revealing embellishments buried within the fabric. Felt will become stronger and smoother, and the ombre dye effect will complement any fading over time. Only natural fabrics have been used; the wool, silks and organic cotton will eventually decompose leaving just a handful of beads and sequins.


I took the scenic route to Chelsea, via a medical course and a stint as a shoe designer in Transylvania. Armed with a degree in mixed media, I lingered at the fringes of the clothing and textile industries with grave reservations about their impact on our planet.  For three years, I travelled, exhibiting textiles and illustrations, designing for film and teaching.

As a surface embellishment and manipulation designer, texture and layering is a key aspect of my work. There is often an element of transformation of the ugly or ordinary into something beautiful.

Graduated with Distinction
Winner of Ethical Fashion Forum 2011 INNOVATION Award for Fashion Textiles Design and Production