So delighted to be part of the Inaugural ireland fashion showcase along with such talented designers such as Heidi Higgins, Úna Burke, House of Delphine, jennifer Rothwell, Caroline Matthews Design, Helen Steel Design, Lucy Nagle, Fee G and Chupi.

There was a packed house at the Irish Consulate, it was fantastic to meet so many of the Irish Fashion Community in New York such as Don O’Neill who was the guest of honour.

See the press release below

Irish Fashion Designers reveal SS 16 collections on the opening night of New York Fashion Week in the Consulate General of Ireland, New York City.

The inaugural Ireland Fashion Showcase, supported by Irish Design 2015, was held in the Consulate General of Ireland, New York City (Thursday 10th of September). The following 10 Irish designers showcased key pieces from their new Spring / Summer 2016 collections: Úna Burke Leather Artisan, Helen Steele, Heidi Higgins, Fee G, House of Delphine, Lucy Nagle (knitwear), Jennifer Rothwell, Caroline Matthews, Chupi (Jewellery) and Carol Kennelly Millinery.

The Ireland Fashion Showcase NYC, aimed to enhance the profile and reputation of the many emerging and established designer talents within the Irish Fashion Industry to an international market. The Showcase was co-produced by  Marietta Doran, fashion stylist and presenter and Orla Diffily, PR, Event & Model Management Consultant. The organisers are currently planning annual Ireland Fashion Showcases for both New York and European Fashion Weeks. For more information visit www.irelandfashionshowcase.ie or @IrelandFSC. #irelandfashionshowcase .

Welcoming everyone on the evening was Barbara Jones, Consul General of Ireland NYC, and guest of honour was Anne Anderson, the Irish Ambassador to Washington. Two Irish models currently making their name in the Big Apple, Michaela O'Shaughnessy, Social Media Producer, MTV, and former Miss Ireland, Emma Waldron, also modeled on the night. They were joined by models from Fenton Moon Model Management. After the Showcase, guests retired to an after-party at THE GREEN ROOM, 156 E 23rd St., Manhattan, New York.

Barbara Jones, Consul General of Ireland in New York. 

“I’m delighted to support Marietta and her team with this wonderful showcase of Irish talent, which tells a powerful story of Ireland as a creative and innovative center of origin for fashion and design.  Every good wish to the ten designers involved.  I very much hope that valuable opportunities and business flow from this event.”

Founder of the Ireland Fashion Showcase, Marietta Doran, sees the inaugural event as a ‘trade mission’, and is fulsome in her praise for Minister Jimmy Deenihan and Senator Catherine Noone for all their support. “To me the IFSC is like a trade mission in that we are raising the profile of the ten participating designers in America during the worlds greatest fashion week - NYFW”

Special guest on the evening, was Don O’Neill, creative director of THEIA.  Other guests on the evening who were hugely supportive of the Showcase were Margaret Molloy, top social media influencer and Global Chief Marketing Office, at branding and design firm Siegel & Gale, Kieran McLoughlin President & CEO The Worldwide Ireland Funds  and Andrea Haughian, Vice President Business Development at Invest Northern Ireland, Maura Kelly, Emmy award winning Media Executive and RTE’s Washington News Correspondent, Caitriona Perry. Top buyers from Bloomingdales, Saks of Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, top fashion bloggers and US and Irish media also attended. 

Hair and make up was by Raika Studio, NYC.

Backstage Jo Lenihan (formerly of Image Magazine) assisted in show production and Julianna Galvin managed social media.