Clothes line

Compiled by DEIRDRE McQUILLAN

Margaret Howell flagship in Rathgar

Fiona and Mark Cummins, who set up their 99b boutique in Rathgar just over two years ago, have now become one of four Margaret Howell flagship stores in Europe (the others are in London and Paris). Howell’s insistence on working with small mills in Ireland, Scotland the UK means the designer has always been a firm supporter of Irish textiles and remains committed to keeping heritage fabrics alive and relevant. This coat, for instance, from her winter collection, is made with Donegal tweed (although is manufactured in Italy) and costs €920. It’s worn here with a navy wool/linen skirt (€495), slim suede lace ups (€395), leather belt (€110) and foldaway fur felt trilby (€150). All from 99b Margaret Howell, Rathgar Road, Dublin 6. Incidentally, Howell’s first MHL store selling Japanese-style utility wear opens in London in December. She has 85 stores in Japan.

High-flying fashion

The furniture designer Garvan de Bruir is finding more and more fans for his leather “aviation” luggage, which is handmade in his studio in Kildare, just across from Kildare Village outlet shopping venue. His collection now features seven items ranging from weekend holdalls and parachuter bags to satchels, iPad and netbook and phone covers, all in saddlery leathers that is hand tanned in the UK. Tough and hardwearing, they are sold both online at AviationLuggage.com and from his studio, where visitors are welcome.

Watch this space

Ebel, the famous luxury Swiss watch company, is currently mounting an historical watch tour across the UK and Ireland to celebrate its centenary. The Irish leg of the tour will be exhibited exclusively by Paul Sheeran in his Johnson’s Court store until next Wednesday. On show will be some of Ebel’s finest historical timepieces, including two from the 1920s, an Art

Deco bracelet watch with diamonds, and an intricate diamond-faced pocket watch with a diamond and platinum chain. Now owned by US company Movado, Ebel was founded in 1911 by the Swiss industrialist and watchmaker Eugene Blum and his wife Alice Levy.

It has long associations with architecture, having sponsored the work of architects from Le Corbusier to Andrée Putman, but more recently the brand has been affiliated with celebrities such as Dennis Hopper, Madonna, Harrison Ford, Gisele Bundchen and Claudia Schiffer. See paulsheeranjewellers.ie