Ireland Fashion Week

Outside the entrance to the Marker Hotel, the lucky holders of personal invitations, future stars, and important figures of the Irish fashion industry are already gathering. A pleasant atmosphere, lots of hugs, rehearsed smiles, and blindingly white teeth. High-watt flashes reflect in sunglasses under Dublin’s grey sky.

Outfits vary. The women have chosen less provocative looks: dresses, skirts, coats, yet with striking accessories. The men stand out for extravagance: fur coats, dyed leather, long wool scarves.

I can’t single out a particular style among those present. Perhaps I’m blind, or there are simply too many different people here: designers, models, stylists, press, bloggers, videographers, and representatives of young, promising brands. Yet one unifying feeling is present: a sense of belonging to something new, something not seen before. The spirit of a nascent secret society hangs in the ionised air.

This is the first Ireland Fashion Week in history.

11:40
Notes:

Well-dressed people do not draw attention.

What draws the eye is either a deliberate ignoring of fashion, which is stylish in itself, or something from the world of very contemporary fashion, something you would never wear on a stroll.

Marker Hotel

For a newly emerged Irish fashion week, the Marker Hotel, where the show takes place, is a modern, stylish, and perfectly suitable venue; it is elegantly faceless, blending into the other hotels in this quarter.

€6 for a double espresso dampens the mood, but, as we know, fashion requires sacrifices.

12:00
An attempt to slip inside was unsuccessful.

13:00
The gathering of invitees has ended. People pour into the foyer, the hall buzzes with conversation; here and there brand logos flash and half-empty wine glasses linger, and outside taxis appear and disappear.

13:24
Photo hunting for people yields excellent shots.

13:37
A crowd at the doors. The route to the runway is blocked by hotel staff armed with the guest list. The phone becomes a way to pass the time.

13:45 — 14:01
We are inside. The hall is divided by the runway like road markings. Three rows of seats on each side. Stifling. The room fills up. People press against the walls. Twelve spotlights illuminate the space. The camera works non-stop. Test shots promise future masterpieces. There’s nowhere to put the sponsor gift sets. Lenses, tripods, transmitters occupy my thoughts. A yellow blot in my field of vision does not fade after so many flashes.

14:03
We begin. Blue and light-blue tones open the show. Styles vary; short and long dresses; the first hat.

Quick notes:

Fabric like a checked holdall

Yellow glasses; business style in high fashion

White dress; rustles like canvas

Beach style; inflatable pool

Baggy; swimwear

Jellyfish; unusual

Raincoat; latitude; longitude

Cape with hood; cloak; short

Blue dress; the bag by that designer we saw at the entrance; waves

Afro; green; short

Felt; sculpted

Green wool

Grass; suit

Hat; skirt; wool

Blue and dark coral

Waves; wool; top

Wool; knit; trousers

Wool; sofa fabric; trousers

Blazer-dress; greenery

Wool; green; headboard; aura

Wool; blue

Dress; changeant?

Headscarf; beige; trouser-dress

Balloons; little cows; writing on the balloons; conceptual

Transparent silk? Changeant? A red stripe

Petrol stain; white; heart; Alice

Mustard; blazer

Mollusc; a white shell on a dark green background

Blazer-dress

Grey

Nun; widow; sheer; fishing net

Sounds of seagulls

Dress

Apocalypse; black leather; rings; nails long like needles

14:24
Final walks; everyone comes out in two rows, models with designers; there are many of them and they come out in groups; third walk, fourth walk, the applause does not stop; fifth walk, they go three in a row. The designers. Sixth walk — three women. Apparently the main ones and the last. The hall pays respect to the work done.

14:30 End

14:39

Photo hunting for people

14:48
Smoke break

Real cries of seagulls, the canal

14:40
By the hotel entrance designers and models crowd together; many have garment bags; tired but happy.

There is time to think over what we’ve seen.

The theme of the show was the Irish Sea, hence the blue and green tones, the music, those swimsuits, those nets. Many pleasing textures and materials. Lots of good-quality wool. Several looks I particularly liked. Many professionals. Many enthusiasts with eyes alight. Many emotions and impressions. The beginning was successful and solid, like a foundation stone.