ABOUT 200 exhibitors, including some 20 Irish, are looking to the future at Moda Ireland in the RDS Simmonscourt. This is the biggest of the fashion trade fairs and lasts until 7 p.m. tomorrow.
It was just beginning to buzz yesterday, as members of the retail trade began placing their orders for next spring and summer. Talk about back to the future. They live months ahead of everyone else. Manufacturers live years ahead.
Lucky indeed were the ones who managed to "take in" a little show of menswear, because it just reinforces a deeply held belief that, like the devil having all the best tunes, men have all the best clothes. This includes frocks this season, according to Richard Lewis, who seems to be seeking attention.
There is a handful of terrific menswear designers in Ireland: Cuan Hanly, Pat McCarthy, Michael Mortell (rainwear), who get great back up from knitters like "Ireland's Eye" and extra things from Jonathan Richards. Between them they put new life into a suit - very high revers on jackets and waistcoats, pleatless trousers, and some amazing colours.
It's nothing now for a man to wear a fiery red velvet suit, team it with a cobalt blue shirt and a purple tie. Or, more likely, there will be no shirt, and no tie either, of course; now it's a roll necked, baggy sweater with a waistcoat worn on top for those in the know. As for the frocks; they are beaded and in clingy silk jersey.
Meanwhile, women are squeezing themselves into suits, though manufacturers like Greg Whelan and Michel Amber also offer very long crepe and linen dresses which can be worn with matching trousers. Michel Amber has also revamped the Mary Quant/ Coureges black and white 1960s thing of boldly patterned shifts. The future, in fact, is full of past ideas and there is hardly one that could stand up as being original 1997.
The main changes are in the fabrics now used, many of which contain lycra, and all of which are very lightweight and smooth textured. And there is a great display of colour: the whole spectrum, it seems, is about to hit an unsuspecting public.
Moda has become a better show since it began 23 years ago. It has improved dramatically in the last year with better lay out, more information available, and a nice little upbeat feel.
There has been a slight shift in favour of Danish fashion which is nudging out Germany as number one importer. But Moda is above all an international show, in which the Irish do a star turn.