On Wednesday night, as I was working up to deadline in my production job, Mary Lennon was pocketing the €10,000 prize in the Persil Irish Fashion Awards 2011, held in the rooftop café of Marks & Spencer on Grafton St. (I love that place for the huge friendly seagulls and the pancake stack.)

Here’s Mary accepting her prize alongside designer Peter O’Brien and model Sarah Morrissey in the winning design. (Serious eyebrow envy, just for the record.)

Mary’s design was inspired by umbrellas and the way they open and close – and can be worn a variety of different ways, using buttons and ribbon ties to change up the silhouette.

Mary Lennon is from Castleblayney in Co Monaghan and is currently studying in NCAD. Watch this space!