A graduate fashion show by the ATU Fashion Design with Promotion programme served up a fresh pour of style statements yesterday in the unique setting of Kinnegar Brewery in Letterkenny.

From conscious crafts to craft beer, the show celebrated the talents of 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students on their journey to being the north west’s next top designers.

Catwalk looks included innovative projects focused on circular design and sustainability, including a new collaboration with Letterkenny Tidy Towns that challenged second year students to source fabric from the Good and New charity shop to turn into trousers and shorts.

Tapping into the university’s industry links, fourth year fashion students partnered with Donegal’s renowned fashion and textile houses to repurpose remnant fabrics into fresh contemporary designs. The projects were supported by McNutt of Donegal, Orla Vera, Magee 1866 and Molloy & Sons.

Among the third year student designs, themed on Blurred Reality, were mindful creations, some based on stories and myths. Some pieces celebrated gender inclusivity while other narratives explored topical issues such as violence against women.

Using everything from curtains to coffee beans and cotton canvas, the students’ creative ideas pushed the boundaries to tell their stories.

Leah Kelly’s Mirrorball Collection

Mickyjoe Towns with a model wearing the Birds do not Sing in Caves collection

The segment featured works by students Declan Kerrigan and Elizabete Klova, who are both studying on Erasmus in Paris at the LISAA School of Art & Design, but contributed to the exhibition before embarking on their creative expeditions.

Fourth-year students also presented collections drawing from incredibly eclectic sources. Inspirations ranged from Alicia Barr’s striking designs inspired by stained glass artwork to Emma McKinney’s patterns influenced by microscopic organisms.

Bray Zhang’s exploration of cultural tensions inspired his contemporary, precisely tailored Donegal tweed collection with fabric from Molloy & Sons.

Meanwhile, Anna Ní Mháirtín’s ‘Scavengers’ turned found fabrics into defiant dystopian Mad Max inspired streetwear. An emotion-fuelled collection by Hollie M Gallagher took Magee 1866 remnant fabric and taffeta to create physical safety bubbles for the wearer.

Hollie M Gallagher – Extended Boundaries

Awards presented on the evening went to:

  • Letterkenny Tidy Towns Sustainable Design Project Award: Awarded to Natalia Mangan
  • Level 7 Designer of the Year: Awarded to MickyJoe Towns, presented by Hannah McGuinness.
  • McElhinney’s Stores Level 8 Designer of the Year: Awarded to Anna Ní Mháirtín, presented by Lynsey McGarrigle-Carlin.
  • Donegal Local Enterprise Office Level 8 Enterprise Award: Awarded to Emma McKinney, presented by Sinead Milligan
  • Innovation Award: Awarded to Hollie M Gallagher, presented by Caroline Kilkenny.
  • McNutt of Donegal Sustainability Award: Awarded to Anna Ní Mháirtín, presented by Stacey McNutt.

ATU Fashion Graduate Showcase award winners (L-r) Natalia Manga, Hollie M Gallagher, MickyJoe Towns, Anna Ní Mháirtín and Emma McKinney with their models, pictured with BA Fashion with Promotion Lecturer Eilish Kennedy, Paul Hannigan, Head of College at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal, Lorna Ross, Head of Department, Design & Creative Media at ATU Donegal and Sharon Maxwell, BA Fashion with Promotion Lecturer.

ATU Donegal’s BA Fashion Design with Promotion programme continues to grow from strength to strength, empowering students to become creative leaders in the ever-evolving fashion industry. The undergraduate degree also has a one-year add-on Level 8 programme designed to allow students to specialise in a chosen area of Fashion or Fashion Promotion. To find out more, visit https://www.atu.ie/courses/bachelor-of-arts-fashion-design-with-promotion-on-campus-donegal

Photo Gallery

Naoise Comerford and Shannon Black

Lynsey McGarrigle Carlin and Jordana Devine from McElhinneys

Bray Zhang – Distant Echoes

Alicia Barr – Structured Light

Alicia Barr – Structured Light

Elizabete Klova – Wide Awake

Leah Kelly’s Mirrorball Collection

Aoife Brogan – Persephone’s Return

Textile Heritage Project by Emma McKinney

Emma McKinney – Atomic Allure

MickyJoe Towns – Birds do not Sing in Caves

Kelda Gibson and Fiona O’Reilly from the ATU Department of Design & Creative Media

Film student Louise Callaghan covering the fashion show

Hollie M Gallagher – Extended Boundaries

Anna Ní Mháirtín – Scavengers

Bray Zhang (right) with model showcasing the Distant Echoes collection

Alicia Barr with her model showcasing Structured Light

Emma McKinney with her Textile Heritage Project design

Aoife Brogan with her model showcasing the Persephone’s Return collection