Presenting at Brown Thomas Galway

Brown Thomas sponsor the Ones to Watch category of the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards. The morning after the awards, I met with Niamh, visual merchandiser for Brown Thomas, to deliver several garments for their store. Following the days ahead, Brown Thomas released images of their window display on their Twitter, which included my gown.

My gown on the window of Brown Thomas Galway

My two piece gown is featured alongside Ruth Duignan (middle) and Etain Grant (right). It is constructed of 300 individual pieces of black silk organza and is paired with a suede patchwork crop top with silver topstitching.

My two piece gown on the window of Brown Thomas Galway

I couldn’t resist a proud photo beside my first window display!

On March 26th, I, alongside fellow Irish designer Ruth Duignan, presented a few pieces of my Autumn/Winter 2016 collection in store. After a 5 hour journey, Eoin and I arrived in Galway. Galway is immersed in character, its intimacy laced with old stone buildings and dainty bridges that frame the River Corrib. My first destination was set, as we approached Brown Thomas, my striking gown radiated confidence and stood boldly in its enigma, even from a distance. To passers by I was possibly a very excited tourist who wanted a photograph outside a famous Irish department store, but to see my creation on such an esteemed display blurred everything else in its surroundings.

Brown Thomas promoting the Meet the Designer event

On entering Brown Thomas, we were greeted with a sign promoting the “Meet the Designers” event. We were escorted upstairs to the first floor which revealed our garments. As well as the garment on the window, I also got to display a silver leather patchwork dress and a wool patchwork dress in the store. It was so fulfilling to have my label existing between Armani and DVF!

Bonded knit patchwork jumper dress

My silver leather and silk patchwork dress (right) alongside Etain Grant knitwear (left)

Hopefully this will be the first of many appearances for the Kyree Forrest label!

Kyree ♥

Irish Fashion Innovation Awards

After a long awaited, tumultuously busy few months, the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards arrived!

Months, weeks, days and hours of fabric sourcing, designing, pattern cutting and garment construction were induced to produce my Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, of which I was to showcase 4 pieces in the “Ones To Watch” category of the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards. The only category that was a non-judging category, it was sponsored by Brown Thomas and included the emerging Irish designers regarded to have great potential for the fashion industry. I was honoured to be a part of such an elite event, also referred to as the “Irish Fashion Oscars.”

 

Other categories included, Fashion Designer of the Year, Milliner of the Year, Student Designer of the Year, Accessories Designer of the Year and Jewellery Designer of the Year, all of which had an abundance of overwhelming talent and held great reverence to the skill of Irish Design.

The Kyree Forrest collection nestled among the rails

After a 5 hour drive the previous night, I arrived at Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Galway, for fittings on the morning of the awards. Thankfully no alterations were needed as I forgot my pins!! A wave of anticipation resonated backstage among the designers, models and producers, who were swept adrift in the Irish sea of collections.

Adorned in my own label, I was ready for the show. Just before the first half of the show came to a close, the Ones To Watch commenced, which included a former university classmate, Fintan Mulholland and a fellow resident designer of the Fashion & Textile Design Centre, Etain Grant, both of whose knitwear collections blew me, and most likely every other audience member, away!

Brown Thomas, the sponsor of the Ones To Watch category in the IFIA

With adrenaline flowing, heart pumping impatiently to the beat of the music and eyes dancing to the lure of the models, my collection was next! Inspired by diamonds, it would  stage a production of strong protagonists: contrasting textures, metallics and geometric patchwork shapes in materials of foiled leather, silk and wool.

Kyree Forrest bonded knit patchwork dress with leather trims

Kyree Forrest silk, leather and Italian viscose patchwork dress.

Kyree Forrest foiled leather and silk patchwork dress.

Kyree Forrest silk patchwork top and Italian viscose patchwork shorts.

My collection evoked a dark, bold edge and left a subtle trail of drama in its shadow. It confidently presented wearable, sellable clothing (which doesn’t always translate on the runway) while also being innovative and original.

It was fulfilling to share a runway with immense talent and I am beyond privileged to have been a part of this event!

Kyree ♥