For DIFW 2023, we chose to hold our fashion week at The Chocolate Factory in Dublin. We wanted the showcase to be like that of designers at Dover Street Market, where each designer creates an immersive space so that visitors have the experience of stepping into the world of each designer.
The committee worked together with members taking on specific responsibilities such as booking the venue, curating a fashion show, seeking sponsorship, media communications, marketing the event, and setting out a structure for the weekend. As we did not secure any sponsorship in 2023, the event was fully self-funded by the founding committee members. We worked with Trinity Fashion Society to organise the fashion show, and Sweartaker PR to put together our list of attendees.
The event launch was so well received—the demand for tickets was incredible!—and the fashion show sold out almost immediately! This year for DIFW 2024, our second fashion week, we have expanded the line-up, with 20+ designers participating, and have satellite events taking place all week in various locations around Dublin from 11-17 November 2024.
While last year’s event was entirely self-funded, we are delighted that this year’s Irish Design Showroom in Smock Alley Theatre is part-funded by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland. The two-day event will go live in conjunction with this year’s Irish Design Week.
Why is community support and collaboration such an important aspect of working as a designer?
We all run small independent businesses. For each of us, this involves a huge time commitment, with long hours and undefined working schedules to manage all aspects of a business. Working these long hours, often alone, can be isolating. One of the goals of DIFW is to create a space for fashion, jewellery and accessory designers to showcase their work within a supportive community of Irish designers.
We aim to support each other and provide a space where designers can ask each other questions, offer advice, recommend fashion industry contacts, and ultimately hold each other up.
