Dublin Independent Fashion Week 2024 (DIFW24) went down an absolute treat this year. It took place from the 11th to 16th of November. There were fashion shows throughout the week in Fade St Studios, finally culminating in a showroom in The Smock Alley Theatre on the Friday and Saturday with 20 designers’ collections on display. My own role was to witness the showcasing designers’ works and write poems about them! These poems were printed and on display in the showroom. Here’s me with poems, as captured by Remi Stirbys:
Here are my top 5 takeaways from the week :
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Ní neart go cur le chéile (We are better together)
DIFW24 was a shining example of strength in unity. It literally came about from friendship: when a group of designers realised the need for a fashion week in Ireland. This comradely origin and leadership could be felt in every aspect of the week: from small interactions (lending me a scissors) to professional negotiations (asking for the work in the first place). It wasn’t about competition but about helping each-other. A real-life example of triumphant “fashion sweethearts” as Anouchka Grose would put it, setting the ground work for an event, and winning at it.
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DIFW is a victory for girlhood
I got quite emotional witnessing BIIRD perform at the showcase with the dancers (choreographed by Adam O Reilly). BIIRD are a girl band stroke trad group, who are changing the perception and representation of women in traditional Irish music. And how? Mostly through clothes and fashion. Ríon Hannora is one of their regular stylists, and also a designer in the committee of DIFW. On this occasion BIIRD wore clothes from a mix of the showcasing designers. They looked incredible, long or short layered and nearly fraying skirts with boots which they could still move and play in. They struck me as fully free, fully feminine and kind of gave pirate energy in the best possible way. In front of me in the crowd was a young girl of about 8 years old. This was the moment I felt a tear: I wondered how she would see them? I wondered about the possibilities in the future for the next generation of girls, witnessing this kind of empowerment from a young age? It struck me as a beautiful openness, and I understood deeply why representation is so important.
Further, more generally, let’s be real, fashion is girlie. To take pride in fashion, and have a whole event dedicated to it, is an ultimate win for girlhood. Both for my own inner child, and also for all those, whether girls or not, who have felt the need to suppress the softer, girlier, more fashionable or more frivolous aspects within.
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Creativity is a form of generosity
I was going home on the Saturday evening: dusk, feet aching, mind buzzing and whizzing… When suddenly it occurred to me: what would happen to the poems on display in the showroom? It seemed a shame to me that these physical artefacts from the week might go to waste. Tired and reluctant as I was, I decided to rush back to cut up the poems for each designer, sign them and gift them to each. This way, they would have a physical memory of the week. It was quite a symbolic gesture, and I got emotional again, because I’d already been thinking about the poems as nearly like gifts for the designers. A way to say thank you for their gifts of creativity and give them a slice of mine. It struck me that that is what creativity is : ultimately a form of gift giving or generosity.
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Poetry is relevant in 2024
In a world of noise and constant communication, poetry can get lost. Throughout the week though, I realised this is precisely what makes poetry important. It is a beautiful way to honour and capture the moment, to say thank you for it, and to ritualise our experience. To allow life to feel sacred again. Sometimes I too can question the importance of poetry, but it is so vital, especially when it is written as a way to connect or honour something. In this case it was the designers work, but it could be anything!
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Follow your heart and anything is possible!
This is true both for my own personal journey of writing about fashion, but also for the committee designers who literally, while still running businesses and brands full- time managed to create an outstanding event and legacy. I am so proud of everyone involved and so grateful for this opportunity.
So that’s it, my five takeaways for DIFW24. Thank you for reading!
