From womenswear in linen and tweed to leather gloves, knitwear to handmade hats - these five Irish brands combine heritage with contemporary style.
NOEMA
NOEMA is an Irish-born and Irish-made brand which is inspired by the Mallorcan way of living. The aesthetic of the brand is one of simplicity of dress - effortless, laidback design that is modern yet timeless.
Each NOEMA piece is handmade in Ireland using Irish linen, Irish wool and organic bamboo silk. The aim is to use materials that are as local and as sustainable as possible with local and transparent production also key factors. NOEMA's capsule collections are made to last from high quality materials. Key pieces in the collection include coats, trousers, blazers and dresses.
Find NOEMA at Stand C104 in the DCCI Area.
Wendy Louise Designs
Originally from Oxford, England, Wendy Knight says that she inherited both her passion for millinery and her nimble fingers from her grandparents, Hayden Sidney and May Congreve who made bespoke hats for many years under the name of Roach and Congreve. She still uses some of their vintage blocks today when making her bespoke creations. Her great uncles, Stan and Reg Clark, also worked for block makers in Luton which was famous for hats at the time. It can certainly be said that millinery runs in her blood.
Knight established her own business here in 2004 and is based in Co. Longford. She specialises in handcrafted designs ranging from theatrical large-brimmed showstoppers to more subtle styles such as cloches, pillboxes, trilbies and fedoras. She also produces a range of ready to wear retro jersey headbands aimed at the gift market.
Find Wendy Louise Designs at Stand L48 in the Local Enterprise Showcase.
George Horn Gloves
George Horn Ltd is a third generation glove maker based in Stoneybatter, Dublin. The business was established by George Horn himself in 1943 and is carried on today by his son Brian and grandson Gerard.
Recently, the family have been joined by designers Larissa Ivannikova and Siobhan Curtis as well as by seamstress Hannah Yakovenko. Since Brian Horn began working in the business in 1960 he has manufactured gloves for all sorts of purposes including military, industrial and sports gloves as well as high-fashion gloves for well known brands and retailers in the UK, US and Europe.
Delving into the archives will see some old favourites reimagined at Showcase this year. The designers at George Horn are bringing back to life a set of original patterns and designs from the 1940s and 1950s that Horn originally used when he started the business. Ivannikova and Curtis have been working on reinterpreting these for today’s customers and the result is an incredibly chic design that reignites this brand’s incredible history.
In recent months the brand has received a great deal of media attention in print and on radio. They have appeared on BBC Radio Ulster and on Newstalk and have been featured in pieces in the Irish Times and in the New York Times bringing the world’s attention to this unique heritage family business.
Find George Horn Gloves at Stand C86 in the DCCI Area.
Linen Shirt Company
Line Shirt Company founder, Anneliese Duffy, grew up in the garment industry - attending trade shows with her parents, owners of DMF Clothing. She later went on to study part-time for many years at the Grafton Academy, going on to attain a degree in Fashion and Textiles at NCAD. Her international design and cutting experience includes working with John Galliano’s pattern cutter Bill Gayton.
The Linen Shirt Company range includes beautifully-made linen shirts for men, women and children. The women’s range includes tailored masculine styles as well as dramatic styles such as the Nina with its pleated sleeve detail and pussy bow or the Jess with its roll-back collar, wrap-over front and turn-back cuff.
Men’s styles include the Sean with a classic grandfather collar and turn-back cuff and the Cian - a classic style with contrasting collar detail.
The baby range features little handmade blouses that are dotey in the extreme with Peter Pan collars and contrast piping detail.
Find Linen Shirt Company at Stand C92 in the DCCI Area.
Linda Wilson Knitwear
Linda Wilson studied her BA in Fashion Design at the renowned Limerick School of Art & Design, continuing her professional development with a Business & Design Skills course with Design & Crafts Council Ireland. She also holds a postgraduate qualification in Industrial Knit Technology.
Before establishing her eponymous label in 2000, Wilson worked for several years as a designer - both in-house and freelance - within the Irish knitwear industry. She has also worked as a knitwear and design tutor.
Based in Limerick city, Wilson is known for her eye-catching designs which are characterised by her beautiful use of colour, texture and pattern - characteristics, she says, which are inspired by her early years growing up on a small farm in Co. Donegal.
Find Linda Wilson Knitwear at Stand D136 in the Main Hall. 
