Limerick School of Art & Design to open fashion incubator centre

A fashion incubator centre, the first of its kind in Ireland, is to be established next year by the Limerick School of Art & Design to nurture homegrown talent with plans to source EU funding for the enterprise.

The college is also introducing a new diploma course in knitted textiles in September under the direction of Liz Spillane; already there have been 50 applications for the 20 places.

Currently three graduates specialising in knitwear are successfully manufacturing in Limerick, including Áine Behan whose designs were selected for Year of Culture 2014, resulting in an order for 80,000 caps and scarves.

This year's graduate show, supported by Bord Gáis, was held in the 19th century Milk Market in the city centre.

The 19 final year students, drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as the Kray Twins, Barbie, aviation and anorexia, impressed with their assurance, imagination and originality. The overall prize awarded was toMichael Stewart from Kilkishen in Co Clare for his "Totem" collection.