Young designer shows that green is good

"I love doing things with my hands. I just want to make things and I have a huge interest in accessories," said a jubilant Daniel Roden, winner of the inaugural €4,000 Brown Thomas "Designer to Watch" bursary at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) graduate fashion show yesterday.

Mr Roden, from Ballsbridge, Dublin, who interned with Philip Treacy and who now wants to gain industry experience in France or Italy, was one of this year's 15 graduates showcasing their collections in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin, along with 12 third-years.

Those in attendance included Prof Declan McGonagle and Angela O’Kelly from NCAD, Karen Hennessy of the Design & Craft Council of Ireland and fashion designers Heidi Higgins, Natalie Coleman, Helen Steele, Jennifer Rothwell and Carolyn Donnelly.

Creativity

Workmanship throughout was impressive. Mr Roden’s shapely, all-green collection using felt, silk, cashmere and feathers which will go on display in Brown Thomas in July drew from his fascination with the superstitions around green.

Others singled out for their creativity and freshness were Jessica Bagnall from Ballinascorney, Dublin, whose slim curvaceous dresses, slouchy coats and beautifully finished trouser suits could go straight into commercial production.

The craftsmanship of Alice Langton from Terenure, Dublin, which is rooted in traditional techniques, was striking; she used woven reed boleros over silk dresses, sloping reed skirts with tulle tops and trousers made from Foxford blankets.

Another outstanding student was Adam Henderson, from Firhouse, Dublin, whose collection called "Made in the Irish Free State" took its silhouette from the military uniforms of Cumann na mBan softened with delicate laser-cut silk chiffon. He trawled the archives in Kilmainham Gaol for his research.