‘Of Land & Lore’ is a collection about identity, family and place. The collection takes place on Inis Mhór, the largest island of The Aran Islands located off the West Coast of Ireland; a place that I return to each year to visit my godmother and her home.
The island contains centuries old Pre-Christian settlements, forts and places of worship; places in which stories of Celtic myths and legends are alive and told through the landscape today.
Mythology and the landscape are intrinsically tied. I chose to tell these stories through surface design inspired by the traditional basket weaving techniques native to Aran. I designed traditional Aran hand knit pieces with ‘An Tuirne’, a family – run knit studio led by over three generations of island women.
The silhouette celebrates the craftswomen and artists of Inis Mhór that breathe contemporary creativity and life into Aran through their work. Retellings of famous ancient myths like ‘An Táin’, tell the stories of women who take pride in their intelligence, courage and sexuality. I chose silhouettes inspired by both traditional and contemporary dance to further celebrate this woman in fluidity, freedom and movement. ‘Of Land & Lore’ is a celebration of the creative women that raised me and for those that I meet through the stories and land time and time again.
The island contains centuries old Pre-Christian settlements, forts and places of worship; places in which stories of Celtic myths and legends are alive and told through the landscape today. Mythology and the landscape are intrinsically tied.