Irish Fashion Designers

An Irish Post issued six stamps to honour contemporary Irish Fashion Designers who work under their own name and with their own label, and who have both a national and international reputation.

The designers are Paul Costelloe, Louise Kennedy and Lainey Keogh, while a separate first day cover features the work of John Rocha, Philip Treacy and Orla Kiely.

Paul Costelloe was born in Dublin to an Irish father and American mother, he was educated at Blackrock College, Dublin, and trained as a fashion designer in Paris, Milan and New York. He set up his own fashion label in 1979 and is a very successful designer with an international reputation. Paul also specialises in corporate wear, having designed uniforms for Aer Lingus, Delta Airlines and British Airways.

Louise Kennedy hails from Thurles, County Tipperary, where her family ran a drapery shop. She studied fashion at the Grafton Academy in Dublin and set up her own business in 1982. She is based in Merrion Square, Dublin, from where she produces her luxurious contemporary pieces. Louise has been the recipient of many prestigious awards including ‘Irish Designer of the Year’ on four separate occasions.

Lainey Keogh was born in Dublin, and started knitting for friends in the 1980s while still a student of microbiology. In 1987, she held her first landmark show of her hand knitted cashmere pieces and some years later, an opportunity to work with designer Michael Mortell marked the start of her career in fashion. Her home and studio are based in County Wicklow.

Title: Irish Fashion Designers
Date of Issue: 15 July 2010
Country: Ireland
Denominations: 55c x 3, 82c x3