NINETEEN FOURTH-YEAR fashion students from the Limerick School of Art & Design previewed their graduate collections at a special fashion show in Dublin yesterday.
Course directors Trish Keilthy and Ann Melinn oversaw the event, sponsored by Bulmers, Light and announced details of a "Most Cutting Edge Collection" award which will be judged by Paris-based Irish designer Sharon Wauchob at the school's final year show in Limerick on May 15th.
Each student showed one item. "This is just a taste of what is to come," Ms Keilthy told The Irish Times. "This year there's a lot of experimental cutting and breaking of rules, but that is the attitude LSAD has always wanted. Concept drives everything."
It certainly showed in the diversity of approach and in the variety of inspiration behind the collections, which drew from music, nature, literature and even graffiti. Dresses predominated.
Knitwear has always been Limerick's strong point and it showed in Maggie Danaher's trapeze knit armoured with chunky cables and in Isabelle Phipps's delicate crochet lace dress tinkling with crystal. Students such as Lorna Doogue, Laura Kinsella and Ann Conmy showed their hand at volume and intricate pleating. Some items had couture elegance such as Louise Devereux's take on the little black dress, while others were zany, such as Sarah Duggan's graphic stripes and prints and Michelle Van Soest's sequined bubble dress. Leather featured in two jackets, one decorated with leather garlands by Judith Ryan and another appliquéd with James Bond women by William McGovern with a real rock'n'roll edge.
Limerick fashion students have been showing their mettle already this season, carrying off both first and third prize in the Nokia competition. This year's winner, Michelle Wilson, closed the show with a shimmering evening dress decorated with Swarovski crystal.