THE WINNER OF THIS year’s €10,000 Persil Irish Fashion Award, held yesterday in Dublin, is NCAD student Síle O’Shea (23) from Pettigo, Co Donegal.
One of the eight finalists in the competition whose brief was to create a white washable summer outfit, O’Shea’s winning ensemble was a glamorous new take on the white shirt, manipulating fabric through ruching, pleating and smocking.
“My idea was to reproduce Frank Gehry’s ideas about architecture into fabric,” said the designer who plans to buy an industrial sewing machine or do a master’s degree with the prize money. “It will kick-start my career. I think everyone dreams of setting up on their own, but I would like to get work experience first.”
According to couturier Peter O’Brien, one of the judges of the competition now in its 11th year, the standard of this year’s finalists was exceptionally high.
“Their creativity was very inspirational and positive. The making of the clothes was excellent and there were more real clothes that were wearable and interesting and better designed all round,” O’Brien said.