One of Ireland's best known fashion designers, Louise Kennedy has said that her business enjoyed a "bounce back in sales" last year even though her stores were closed for five months during lockdown.

“We were pleased with the bounce back on sales, particularly around special occasion dressing when weddings were allowed to happen, ” Ms Kennedy said

On the firm’s prospects for this year, Ms Kennedy said “we are investing heavily in the development of our online presence with an expectation that our enhanced online presence will reach a broader audience and provide a shopfront to this new global reach”.

Profits

“We are currently investing in a new accessories room in our flagship store in Merrion Square which we hope to launch this summer. We are expanding our collection of leather goods and silk accessories,” she added.

Ms Kennedy was comments were made as recently filed accounts by her company  Signum Ltd show that pre-tax profits plunged by 74 per cent from €371,899 to €95,341 for 2020.

Ms Kennedy said that,with no international travel, business was affected by the lack of US customers ravelling to Europe. "In London, where we normally enjoy strong support especially from the Middle East, the store in Belgravia was devoid of any international clients," she said.

Ms Kennedy said that the business was able to make sales during Covid lockdowns “through personal shopping appointments conducted by zoom styling sessions”.

“Clients both in Ireland and internationally were appreciative of this service,” she said.

“Despite the impediments that the pandemic brought to the fashion industry, I am pleased to say the business did return a profit, notwithstanding all the challenges.”

The business in 2020 availed of Covid-19 support grants from the Irish and British governments totalling €132,688.