Focus on Irish Designers: Our Fabulous Five to Watch

Ireland has a lot of great innovation and talent when it comes to home grown fashion, both new and established. We are very much led by celebrity style and what we see on the high street, but we have some of the most gifted creatives in Europe who have emerged from the likes of NCAD, Limerick School of Art and Design and Griffith College Dublin.

Each year I scour the country for my "ones to watch" and as we approach a new season, there is no more apt time to see who will be our stars of Autumn Winter 2014.

So, in no particular order...

Emma Manley

Emma's pieces have always been a favourite of mine thanks to her intricate details and use of textures and fabrics such as leather. Manley's creations are designed to empower, to be "gutsy" as she explains.

Her palette is autumnal with burnt orange and teal balanced with metallics and white. Embellishment is her forte, and watch out for her hand cut leather appliqué on skirts and tops in her Autumn Winter collection.

Aoife Harrison

Harrison's hats take pride of place in the Design Centre at Powerscourt Town Centre alongside another famous name in millinery, Philip Treacy.

Aoife's hats are made with elegance in mind, from smaller fascinator styles to all out saucer designs finished with an array of details like feathers. If you have an occasion approaching, Aoife will consult with you to create the perfect hat made just for you from her quaint studio on Fitzwilliam Square Dublin.

Lya Solis

Having just opened her first shop in Dublin, Lya's Chanel-like dresses are inspired by the 1930s and are cut with a great understanding of the female form. Her dresses hug in all the right places, with tweed being the key fabric used.

"We use a lot of silk, tweed and cashmere which are very feminine and classic in cut" Lya told me at the opening event of her salon. Lya is keeping her collection a little exclusive with just one dress made in each size at the moment, so each piece is just a bit special!

Michael Power

This is a name you will be hearing a lot more of, as Power is currently working for Lanvin!

His MA collection, following completion of his masters at Central Saint Martin's in London, won him the coveted best collection prize in February and since then, Power has gained huge popularity in the fashion world.

Let's see how he does under the guidance of Alber Elbaz at Lanvin. A star in the making!

Simone Rocha

At London Fashion Week in February, I attended Simone's show to be blown away by her creativity (as well as the fact that I was sitting behind Anna Wintour). Wintour's attendance is a real seal of approval from the fashion-powerhouse-of-that-immovable bob (I can confirm that her hair NEVER moves even a millimetre).

Layering, lace, gold, check..there are so many particles of this ever so impressive collection. I can't wait to see what she has in store for Spring Summer 2015 (I know it's ages away but we love a bit of forward planning at Beaut HQ!)

Have you a favourite Irish designer? Or have you a piece of Irish design that you adore?