Last night we crowned our Young Designer of the Year 2018 Award to Michelle McAuley!
DublinTown Fashion Festival was delighted to have had all 10 of the Young Designer of the Year finalists for 2018. The finalists’ designs took to the catwalk opening our fashion show, which took place in the stunning surroundings of The Round Room in The Mansion House on last night, Wednesday, 12th September.
Michelle McAuley, who studied at Edinburgh College of Art, hails from Glenarm, Co. Antrim and was truly inspired by her Irish heritage, skills and craft. Her main aim for her collection was to go beyond traditional textiles by using unconventional methods and mixing Irish craft and contemporary fashion which Ireland is renowned for.
“I taught myself traditional basket weaving, cable knitting and linen weaving, this collection stands for an electric awakening of craft. Sustainability was a key focus of me, this was embedded in my designers ethos and I created techniques with zero waste from pattern cutting and I upcyclyed my Father’s butcher yarn.”
Wearing a stunning burnt orange and traditional yarn two-piece dress, model Irma walked down the X-staged runway wearing Michelle’s design. Head judge Bairbre Power announced the winner, which took Michelle by complete surprise. Her smile couldn’t be bigger as she herself stepped onto the runway to walk alongside her model and design.
DublinTown Fashion congratulates Michelle McAuley as Young Designer of the Year 2018
