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A weekly edit of brands with products to look out for at Showcase 2024 including bright umbrellas, sustainable soaps and whimsical wooden designs.
Clare O’Connor
Clare O'Connor is an award winning multi-disciplinary artist and designer from Co. Meath and the Chairperson of the newly launched Meath Made collective. She has worked with prominent artists in Berlin and Venice and has exhibited across Europe and the US including at the Straight out of Ireland showcase in Philadelphia in 2019 and 2022. O’Connor has also been selected for the prestigious CREATE show at Brown Thomas, Ireland’s leading luxury retailer, on a number of occasions.
O’Connor produces a range of wearable products that include scarves, dresses and kimonos as well as a range of accessories such as printed umbrellas and tote bags. Each item features a print drawn from her original paintings and exhibits the same wonderful sense of vibrant colour, movement and positive energy as her paintings.
O’Connor launched her brand of wearable art in 2018 and has honed and developed her collection ever since. Her scarves are season-less and timeless - statement pieces that will never go out of fashion and that appeal to their wearer’s individual taste and style rather than pandering to passing trends. The striped hand-rolled edge, striped frayed edge and reverse stripe on her scarves are signature style elements which she has extended to her clothing and umbrella designs.
In keeping with her commitment to sustainability, O’Connor constantly researches the most innovative materials on the market. Her 100 percent bamboo scarves won a Highly Commended Award at Showcase 2022 in the Fashion category and her 100% Recycled RPET fabric umbrellas with wooden handles are built to last.
Find Clare O'Connor at Stand C69 in the DCCI Area.
Palm Free Irish Soap
If you’re looking for a product from a local Irish business with a proven track record and some of the best ethics in the business then look no further than Palm Free Irish Soap.
Supplying key retailers including Dunnes Stores, Nourish, Horans and Evergreen Health Stores as well as small independent stockists across Ireland and the UK, this family business is a great example of one that combines savvy and sustainable business practices.
The Co. Clare business makes zero waste, plastic free soap, shampoo, deodorant and laundry bars. Ahead of the curve when the business was founded in 1996, the family creates a unique soap recipe that uses organic plant-based herbs, vegetable oils, skin nurturing essential oils and pure filtered rainwater as the key ingredients in their sustainable, ethical products.
The products are almost good enough to eat with ingredients such as thyme, oat milk, porter, rosewater and wild Irish seaweed. The range also includes products for pets and babies as well as handmade lip balms, gift sets and shaving bars.
Find Palm Free Irish Soap at Stand L54 in the Local Enterprise Showcase Hall.
Sam agus Nessa
With the tagline ‘Designed to make you Smile’ who could resist the charms of Sam agus Nessa’s whimsical wooden creations?
The husband and wife team design and make award-winning furniture and homewares at their studio in Co. Kildare from metal and wood. Their lovely creations are all handmade, individual and beautifully packaged.
They use locally sourced wood to create functional and fun items to enhance the home including their Tweet Tweet and Door Mouse door wedges, their Teach (house) candle holders and their Growing Up bud vases.
Their contemporary furniture range includes the slick Forum bench, the uplifting Good Morning Sunshine mirror and the Barróg Arm Chair which comes with additional built-in upholstered arms designed to embrace the sitter in a hug.
Find Sam agus Nessa at Stand C40 in the DCCI Area.
