Creative Spotlight: 5 Irish Knitwear Designers To Lust After

Sian Jacobs

Sian Jacobs is an Irish knitwear designer who infuses contemporary embellishment with traditional knitwear techniques. This designer focuses on form, fit, and feel, and her signature styles are loose-fitting and elegant. Jacobs is a firm believer in ethical garment production and works closely with a team of milliners in Nepal. As well as this, a percentage of her profits made from the collections are donated to Irish-based charity Foundation Nepal. Shop her collection here or follow her here.

Magee 1866

Established by John Magee in 1866 (hence the name), Magee of Donegal are true experts when it comes to tweed knitwear and has been mastering the craft for over 150 years. Fast-forward to 2016 and the mills continue to produce garments for men and women using traditional methods; giving their products a real earthy and organic feel steeped in Irish history. Their most notable product is the original ‘salt and pepper? Donegal tweed with its distinctive bright speckled flecks of colour. In 2013 Magee launched their luxury accessory collection including throws, candles, scarves and bags. Shop here and follow them here.

Sphere One By Lucy Downes

Sphere One knitwear is conceptual design brand under the creative direction of Lucy Downes who focuses on colour, construction and silhouettes through knitwear. Each garment comes with a signature stitched ring at the back of the neck using season-specific colours which, according to Sphere One, characterises the craftsmanship of each collection – which is woven on a hand loom or on a hand frame. Downes sources her cashmere from Scottish and Italian mills. Shop her collections here and follow her here.

Aisling Duff

Aisling is a recent graduate from NCAD who has been tipped as a major one to watch for Irish design and knitwear. Her graduate showcase included a stunning 100pc Marino wool jumper (similar to this scarf below) which she loosely knitted together. Taking inspiration from nature, honey, bees, and soft colour pallets, her dreamy creations play with form and interchangeability. Follow her here.

Danielle Romeril

A recent graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design, Danielle Romeril is a contemporary knitwear designer who uses mills in Ireland, Japan, Italy and the UK to produce her vibrantly modern and contemporary designs. Describing her pieces as “relaxed contemporary design”, her designs always embrace a feministic aspect juxtaposed with “something street or utilitarian”. Danielle has recently become part of the NEWGEN panel – which is an internationally recognised talent identification scheme by created by the British Fashion Council – and will present her sixth season at the NEWGEN showcase at London Fashion Week. Shop her AW collection here and follow her here.