FASHION SHOW - CELTIC FESTIVAL JAPAN - 1997

After the tremendous success of last year's superb collection by Tokyo's young talented Irish designer, Antonia Reilly, this year's fashion show looks to be one of the highlights of the Celtic Festival on November 1st. next.
Two other European designers have been invited to show their work. Mr. Marc O'Neill and Ms. Andrea Cleary, (both are currently based in Dublin Ireland).
This year's collection will cover a broad range of maily women's wear designs to catch the keen eye of those stylishly motivated. The themes this year will range from a post modern Japanese look by Antonia Reilly, inspired by her time spent in Japan to the European tastes of her colleagues from Ireland.
Truly a show not be missed and design talent that will no doubt be seen on the international fashion circuit in the future years to come.

MARC O'NEILL PROFILE

Marc O'Neill is regarded as one of Ireland's most contemporary and saleable designers.
Born in 1970, Marc first studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, from where he graduated in 1993 with an honours degree in Fashion Design. The same year he was nomiated 'Fashion Graduate of the Year' by the Society of Designers in Ireland, an awarded a bursary to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Design Management. Marc was also awarded 'Best NCAD Fashion Graduate' and as an example of Irish young design excellence was invited by the Irish Trade Board to exhibit at the Futura Fashion Fair. Marc is also qualified in business and marketing, and was a Smirnoff young designer finalist on two oocasions.
Marc's determination to establish his own label started early. He had his first one-man show while still at college and another immediately after graduating. Seeing a major niche in the home market for a young commercial and contemporary label, Marc launched his first womenswear collection designed for the A-Wear/Brown Thomas group in August 1995. The Marc O'Neill label is now trhe second highest selling high fashion Irish label on the home market.
Marc shares his business with his partner Sarah Henry, a Fashion Marketing graduate, with experience in retail, Public Relations and MArketing, through Lynne Franks and Next. They work from their manufacturing base, M.A International.
The range usually comprising of approximately 100 pieces, is focussed around clean cut tailoring with attention to detail, and is accessorised with co-ordinates and separates such as masculine shirts, tailored and unstructured dresses, knitwear, jersey, and leather.
Due to the success of the range so far and cosntant support from the press, the label has required little promotion. However recent shows include the Brown Thomas Showcase of Irish Fashion Design to a live audience of 6,000 and a television audience in excess of one million and a recent show in Smithfield fruit and veg marget to an audience of over 1,200 people.
Marc's designs have appeared in virtually every fashion publication as well as Hello, Vogue, I-D, the Observer, The Eveing Standard, W, Elle, Drapers Record and Television profiles on Head to Toe, Kenny Live, Live at Three, Echo Island, Scottish 'Get it On', The Clothes Show, MTV and Canadian 'Fashion File'.

ANDREA CLEARY PROFILE

Andrea Cleary graduated from the National College of Art and Design in 1993 with a 1st class honours degree in Fashion Design. While still a student she received a bursary award from the Irish Trade Board and gained experience working alongside Paul Costelloe in his Tyrone based design studios.
During a year spent in New York immediately after graduation, Andrea focused on new and innovative fabrics and on developing an eye for future trends in colour and design.
On returning, Andrea spent some time investigating how to set up her own label. Like many up and coming Irish designers before her she placed her first range in the Powerscourt Design Centre. Following this she spent a year participating in a post graduate development programme for designers, gaining expertise and experience in the manufacturing industry in Ireland and Scotland.
After working in collaboration with designer Nicky Wallace, having designed his womenswear range, she decided to establish her own design studio in march of '96. In her first year of business, she was recognised as an innovative designer by the Irish Fashion Industry Federation. This resulted in further opportunity in the form of exhibition space at Moda Irish International Clothing Trade Fair '97. This exposure coupled with a barrage of positive press reports, resulted in a successful and exciting first year of business.
The Andrea Cleary label is now selling in the Kilkenny Shop in Dublin, An Tain, Temple Bar, and Florenze in Galway City. The first showing of the Andrea Cleary range took place at the Shannon Design Show October '96, the second at Moda January '97. A third show will take place at The Design Centre, September '97.
The fourth and potentially most exciting show will happen in Tokyo in November '97.

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Andrea's profile kindly provided by,
Niamh Bushnell, Customer Care Representative

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