G boutique and coffee bar

New York, London, Milan, Limerick? When it comes to the fashion capital, our Southwest gems usually don't appear in the lineup. This is not to say that it is not a competitor. Quite the opposite.

Its low-key appearance conceals a coveted trio of talent, taste and technical knowledge. International designers, sustainable start-ups, luxury department stores, independent boutiques, and a new group of influential people are all enhancing the county’s image as a creative hub. Looking for a new style destination? It is best to set up your GPS Shannonside.

Let's start with the genius or its mother-Limerick College of Art and Design (LSAD).

Clare Street College is known for its innovative fashion program (Hons) Bachelor's degree and designer alumni such as Joanne Hynes and Colin Horgan, setting high standard. 

Not deterred by the altitude are its two recent graduates: Aoife McNamara, a native of Mangray, and Ejay Griffin of Annacrotty; both of them have participated in the LEO Enterprise entrepreneurship course and have gained a foothold on their own ground.

The slow fashion brand Aoife Ireland (aoifeireland.com) was launched in 2019 and is quickly becoming the focus of attention. Designer Aoife McNamara is located in a thatched shop studio on the main street of Adare. Inspired by the wild beauty of Ireland, he created a sustainable collection. Her mission?

Provide women with important and durable clothing. With the support of social media fan #WearingAoife, the 25-year-old has a good journey (Vogue Williams and Roz Purcell are fans). 

Customers can book a consultation in the cottage, browse a selection of clothing collections and Irish art, or shop online, showing the origin story of each clothing, as well as completely transparent fabrics, suppliers and maintenance techniques.

The earth- and human-friendly approach also supports Ejay Griffin's namesake and "consciously creating" women's clothing brand (ejaygriffin.com). 

Inspired by nature and the local environment, clothing is manufactured in an ethical manner using responsibly sourced fabrics (usually advertised unsold goods at the end of the production line). result? Each series is unique, and products are discarded according to supply and demand.

"With the continuous development of the brand," the 36-year-old said. "I look forward to working with more local manufacturers and scaling up to support our communities and their families." 

At the same time, autumn/winter 21 will have Irish wool, cotton poplin and corduroy from John Hanly's Nenagh factory.

Despite a small number of runs; the brand's spirit of size tolerance makes tailor-made an option to meet individual requirements. OK.

From trendsetters to fashion leaders, Limerick’s shopping venues are equally democratic in terms of their attractiveness. 

Located in the city center: Luxury department store Brown Thomas (brownthomas.com) continues to expand its international ready-to-wear brands. Scandi brands such as Ganni, Remain and Samsøe Samsøe bring a fresh and modern atmosphere, while Totême and MaxMara provide fashionable necessities beyond the seasons.

For antique connoisseurs, you must visit the Milk Market located on Corn Market Street. Browse Vito Vintage (vitovintage.ie) sweeping dresses and kimonos-carefully selected by the owner, Caroline McBrearty. 

On Saturdays and Sundays, Antique Loft (antiqueloft.ie) specializes in original vintage and antique jewelry, clothing, and accessories, including 1940s pearls and vintage tea dresses.

Further afield, the award-winning boutique kimono (kimono.ie) is a good reason to celebrate. Retail hotspots are located in Newcastle West and Charlieville, offering elegant occasions and casual wear in a boudoir space. 

With more than 40 brands designed by Irish and international designers (think Herno, Sportmax and Castanea Cashmere), carefully curated on the floor and in a popular Facebook video by the owner Ailish Mullane. There seems to be a lot of options, showing weekly products Serve. 

Spring and summer 22? Look forward to Sara Roka's dress collection and ancient Greek Kori beach gowns and tunics made of breathable linen, cotton and silk.

Read more Aoife McNamara's design is ethical and fashionable-durable

Hungry for new things? In addition to brands such as Ichi, Libra, Comma and Salsa jeans, the nearby G boutique (thegboutique.ie) also has a delicious coffee bar. Enjoy Old Barracks Coffee Roasters speciality coffee and delicious local homemade cakes, as well as free in-store personal styling provided by the owner Siobhan Walsh.

From IRL to online, the Southwest has emerged as a new type of social media star. Take Louise Cooney (@louisecooney_) of Douoradoyle as an example. She is arguably one of Ireland's hottest fashion influencers, with 213,000 followers on Instagram. 

She has worked with brands such as Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, GUESS and H&M; Cooney's approachable but desirable style has made her shopping skills highly sought after. 

The 29-year-old shared: “I like the dresses that can be rented or purchased in The Ivory Closet.”

"The Lily Shop is a gorgeous downtown boutique. Adare's Aoife Ireland has the most beautiful designs. Another great place to wear for the occasion is Catherine McCormack. Of course, there is also Crescent Shopping Centre: it's super close to where I live , Is the second home I grew up in." 

Although living in Dublin now, one of the former model's favorite Limerick memories was watching Celia Holman Lee's fashion shows around the city. 

"For many years, she has been the best advocate of Limerick style, and I learned a lot from her," said Cooney, who will launch a new clothing line CLOO Active this month. 

"This is something I've been dreaming of since I can remember," she admitted, "but I decided to invest in confinement, take time and realize it. It's scary, but life is short. We have to be in what we are passionate about. Things are risky." 

Also down to earth is Kilmallock gal Niamh Webb O'Rourke (@niamhwebborourke), who sees her 32.2k strong Instagram fan base as colorful clothing posts and DIY renovation photos of her budget-friendly apartment. 

As the digital marketing and human resources manager of Charleville's Love Cherish boutique, and the creative director of the first women's clothing brand Oh, Molly, her work complements her passion. 

"My job is very lucky. I like to incorporate it into my fashion content creation. They go hand in hand," she explained. 

Like Cooney, O'Rourke's love for Limerick and the attraction of local girls (she likes to shop at Be Fabulous and The Edge) make her stand out on a densely populated platform. The same is true of her preference for furry bucket hats, contrast prints and killer Doc Marten boots-all of which are effortlessly real.

Feeling inspired? Join the queue. Limerick, we are on the road. Don't go anywhere.

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