Irish Designer Collective Store – Project 51 Launches
As previously reported in an interview with Precious Diamonds' founder, Eoin McDonnell, a new Irish Designer Collective Store is opening in Dublin shortly and fifteen designers have already signed up.
'Project 51' will be located at 51 South William Street in Dublin 2 and the new concept is devoted to providing the very best high-end luxury Irish goods.
Housed in a 19th Century Georgian building, 'Project 51 - Irish Design Collective' - is being described as an NYC Soho-style luxury boutique, filled with the best of Irish fashion, jewellery, millinery, accessories and furniture.
Project 51 aims to offers the ultimate shopping experience in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. Customers can choose from a wide selection of luxury goods, from engagement rings to bridal wear, jewellery, evening wear, tailoring, millinery and luxury leather bags.
Project 51 is bringing an international concept to Ireland: establishing a creative-fashion-design hub to showcase Irish design and provide the designers with the opportunity to offer unique designs to the public.
By purchasing in an Irish-owned boutique, shoppers are also contributing significantly to the Irish economy. For example, for every €100 spent in a multinational store, only €14 goes back into the local economy versus €45 through an Irish-owned shop (figures courtesy DCBA.ie)
Jennifer Rothwell, one of Ireland’s top designers involved in the store, said: “South William Street was always filled with the business end of the Rag Trade and now it is being reclaimed. It’s time for the rebirth of South William Street once again as the Fashion Centre of Dublin!”
The list of Irish designers currently involved in Project 51 are:
- Ana Faye - www.anafaye.com (Leather Bags)
- Caiomhe Keane - Que-Va.com (Fashion)
- Colette Van Jaarsveld - Arcology.ie (Interior Architect – sustainable furniture & accessories)
- Claire O’Connor - lilccouture.ie (Fashion)
- Eily O Connell – eilyoconnell.com (Jewellery)
- Emma Taylor - RubyJewels.ie (Jewellery)
- Eoin McDonnell - Precious.ie (Jewellery)
- Geraldine Murphy - Saba.ie (Jewellery)
- Heather Finn – heatherfinn.com (Fashion)
- Jennifer Rothwell - jrothwell.net (Fashion)
- Martha Lynn - marthalynnmillinery.com (Millinery)
- Sinead Doyle - sineaddoyle.com (Fashion)
- Sinead Clarke - EssenC.ie (Fashion)
- Vikki Shorten - VSLJewelry.com (Jewellery)
- Yvonne Ryan - EveElla.com (Jewellery)
The designers involved also intend to make an international impact, to increase the profile of Irish design internationally with an emphasis on high quality and innovative design.
Their aim is to achieve the same level of international recognition as the “Antwerp Six”, a group of influential avant garde fashion designers. They presented a distinct, radical vision for fashion during the 1980s that established Antwerp as a notable location for fashion design.