Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha has praised Ireland's fashion landscape as "amazing" and expressed surprise that a dedicated national fashion week had not been established sooner, following her inaugural visit to the country. The event, which opened at Slane Castle in County Meath on 7 October, represents a significant milestone for the Irish creative industry and has drawn international attention to homegrown talent.
Leading figures from the global fashion world, including activist and model Alana Hadid, gathered at the historic venue as Ireland Fashion Week commenced its second edition. According to Tourism Ireland, the 2026 programme has expanded to feature more than 90 designers across eight shows, alongside talks and exhibitions spanning multiple locations across the island through 12 October.
For Rocha, whose modelling career extends beyond two decades, participating in the event constituted a deeply personal "full circle moment." She was first discovered at an Irish dancing competition during her teenage years, yet despite maintaining strong connections to her Irish heritage through both sides of her family and spending 18 years as a dancer, she had never previously visited Ireland until now.
I'm very proud of the fact that I am Irish, I am an Irish dancer, and it is the special thing about me, and so now it's exciting to bring myself here.
Rocha expressed genuine admiration for the calibre and breadth of Irish design talent on display throughout the week. She emphasised her hope that the event would provide tangible support enabling creative professionals to establish thriving careers without relocating abroad.
I really hope that this does much more than just shine a light. That it actually really helps them to maybe stay here or to really figure out what's the next steps for them.
She continued:
They're not just sort of good. They're amazing.
How smaller fashion weeks benefit emerging designers
While the global fashion industry traditionally concentrates on established centres—London, Paris, Milan and New York—Rocha highlighted the value that regional fashion weeks bring to their communities. In an increasingly digital-first industry, she noted, designers can develop their skills and refine their craft from home rather than feeling compelled to relocate to major fashion capitals.
Drawing a parallel to Project Runway, the television programme she hosts, Rocha stressed the importance of introducing emerging talent to fashion as an accessible, locally-rooted profession.
I think if we've done that, we've done a good job.
Ireland's fashion breakthrough moment
The nation's fashion sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum, with internationally recognised designers including Sinéad O'Dwyer, Simone Rocha and Jonathan Anderson increasingly referencing their Irish heritage within their collections. This trend will intensify in December when prestigious French fashion house Dior—led by Magherafelt-born creative director Anderson—will stage its first runway presentation in Ireland, marking a watershed moment for the country's fashion profile.
According to Tourism Ireland, the 2026 programme includes designers Paul Costelloe, Aoife McNamara and Sasha Donnellan alongside O'Dwyer, reflecting the depth of established and emerging talent participating in the week.
Building an industry ecosystem
Ireland Fashion Week founder Ashley McDonnell characterised this year's event as focused on "building on the momentum" established during the inaugural 2025 edition, when 57 designers participated across seven shows and five additional events. She emphasised that the island possesses "extraordinary designers," yet their talent must be accompanied by systematic development of investment channels, commercial opportunities, international exposure and strengthened institutional support structures.
The 2026 programme reflects this strategic vision. Beyond runway presentations, it encompasses industry seminars, graduate showcases and networking sessions designed to connect designers with buyers, investors and international media representatives. Tourism Ireland reports that the initiative was created to address a critical gap: Irish designers previously lacked a dedicated platform and adequate funding mechanisms to showcase their work on a national stage.
Established designers championing heritage craftsmanship
Among participants was County Tyrone-based designer Sarah Jayne Lavery, founder of Charlotte & Tess, established within the Linen Green in Moy, and its in-house label Atelier, which launched merely two years ago. Following her presentation as part of the event's Irish Roots showcase, Lavery described the experience as a defining professional milestone.
Having my own brand and designing is genuinely a dream of mine.
Lavery was among 11 designers selected for the showcase following a competitive application and interview process. Her collection incorporated Irish materials including Donegal tweed, Aran wool and linen, directly reflecting the presentation's emphasis on heritage and traditional craftsmanship.
A particularly meaningful moment arrived when Lavery discovered that Alana Hadid would wear one of her designs as the final look in the show.
She was our final look. I didn't know that she was walking for me until I arrived... I was just delighted.
Lavery believes that events of this scale fundamentally reshape perceptions of the fashion industry and position Irish creatives on an international platform.
I think Ireland is a really creative space at the moment. I think it's very exciting.She credited the organisers with spotlighting Irish talent and elevating
fashion at the forefront.
Her message to fellow Irish designers was unambiguous:
We have so much talent and creativity here, we have so many beautiful fabrics that lots of the designers are using. I would encourage any Irish designer to get involved next year.
Emerging designers gaining international exposure
The next generation of fashion professionals is receiving prominent visibility at the event. Belfast-based knitwear designer Grace Bowman, 22, expressed her honour at being selected among 44 creatives chosen for the graduate runway showcase. According to Ireland Fashion Week, the Damhsa graduate show on 10 October is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees, providing emerging designers with substantial exposure.
Bowman, who launched her own label following studies at Ulster University and a placement with Inis Meáin Knitting Company, draws creative inspiration from the Irish landscape and traditional Irish craftsmanship techniques. She will present a collection combining deadstock linen and organic cotton with abstract Celtic knot motifs and hand-embroidered details.
Bowman emphasised the critical importance of examining traditional techniques and integrating them alongside contemporary design methodologies.
I'm from Belfast so the linen industry has such an historical impact here. It's great to be able to use that within my work and really have Irish materials supported within our industry.
I'm very excited to see everyone else's work on the runway... It will be a fantastic showcase of Irish design and an amazing platform for emerging designers.
Event scale and industry support
The week encompasses diverse programming designed to build community and expand market access for Irish designers. Ireland Fashion Week has established The Irish Edit showroom, which brings together 29 Irish designers across clothing, jewellery and accessories, scheduled at 1 Windmill Quarter on 9 and 10 October. Multiple corporate sponsors, including M&S, Primark and Visa, have committed resources to support the initiative.
What happens next
The week concludes on 12 October with Aoife McNamara's Modern Heritage show at Mount Juliet Estate in County Kilkenny, bringing the six-day programme to a close. Industry observers anticipate that the expanded 2026 edition will establish momentum for continued growth and international recognition of Irish fashion talent in subsequent years.
