Róisín Gartland: ‘I had just enough money left to buy one roll of leather, there was no room for mistakes’

My mission is to remain fearlessly independent.

My brand is an interdisciplinary and multifaceted blend of fine art and design with a special focus on leather.

I carry a small but diverse collection of apparel that includes many one-off pieces.

I also stock bags and gloves and I make small gifting items such as key fobs and card purses from my offcuts, minimising waste. 

I always knew I wanted to be a designer.

I wasn’t interested in dolls as a child, except to take them apart to see how they went together, but from the earliest age, I can recall being curious about all types of materials, handling tools and solving puzzles.

I was delighted to see the DIFW (Dublin Independent Fashion Week) group perform such a great showcase during Design Week.

It was wonderful to see designers supporting each other and refreshing to see the break from traditional norms. 

Funding was a huge concern when I started out in 1987.

I had a £1,000 loan and after purchasing the necessary equipment I had just enough money left to buy one roll of leather, there was no room for mistakes! I designed and made a jacket and skirt. From those samples, I sold eight more pieces and onwards it went in snowball fashion during my first year while the studio formed and began to develop.

Once I had gotten off the ground, I was fortunate to have been supported by the IDA.

They connected me to an exceptional business mentor, Joan Lawlor, (the first female managing director in Ireland and the founder of Ballet International). She taught me the language of business. She also gave me the skills necessary to run a successful business which I was able to put into practice immediately through direct application. That knowledge and those skills are what underpin my ability to run and maintain my studio to this day.