Photo Credits

Festival Photographer: Simon AK

Film Still Photographer: Kieran Kilgallon and Al Hooi

Enchanted Forest Fashion Show Photographer: Barry Murphy

 

 

1. For someone who doesn’t know your designs, how would you describe your vision and aesthetic?

 

Brighter than white, it’s light. Energy, enthusiasm, positivity, fun, playful, psychedelic and engaging. Power in owning one’s own presence.

 

2. What do you want a person to feel when they wear or view your designs?

 

It’s all about feeling free and having fun, letting go, getting loopy and loving your body without feeling vulnerable and exposed. I want the people who view the wearer to be interested, inspired, and to ignite interest in engaging with the wearer.

 

3. Do you have any favourite labels or fashion designers?

 

Natalie B Coleman and Colin Horgan are the designers who inspired me as a teen to pursue fashion design as I was introduced to them when I began modelling. Irish designers who have caught my eye include Richard Malone and Louiseagh. They are paving the way for contemporary Irish fashion. I admire Richard Malone’s clever use of recycled materials and Louiseagh for her amazing, quirky, sequined repeal designs. Internationally, Y/Project, Balenciaga, Christopher Raeburn and I’m excited to see what ASAP Rocky’s new label AWGE will come up with.

 

4. Where do you find the most inspiration for your designs?

 

Through living life and going on adventures, going to raves and festivals. I’m inspired when surrounded by nature when camping and making do with limited materials I made to be resourceful.

 

 

5. Your collection SCAVANGING was designed with sustainability in mind, what        sustainable fashion mean to you?

 

Sustainable fashion design is about being aware and mindful of what fabric I use, where I source it, how it was made, what impact it has. There is so much already out there that goes to landfill, so my approach is to make the most of what we have instead of it going to waste. By repurposing I’m minimising waste as well as producing less material. I saw perfectly good material being put to landfill at festivals and decided to save it by repurposing it into outerwear garments. Adopting a leave-no-trace policy by saving my offcuts to sew together and use as more material or as wadding. I made a conscious effort to sustainably source the stretch fabrics of my collection. In Cambodia I visited warehouses with remnant yards of fabric leftover from the big factories, here I bought some of the stretch material for my collection. Sustainable fashion must have a purpose and a function, while being wearable and comfortable. If no one ends up wearing the garment, why bother to make it? It would be a waste of time, energy and resources. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing the wearer confidently and comfortably enjoying life. Spending time carefully planning every detail of a garment and ensuring longevity and quality is the essence of sustainable fashion. A garment created to last and function for life.

 

6. Do you have a favourite piece from this collection?

 

I like my drippy trippy morph suit because it is modestly sexy and empowering. It reminds me a bit of a power ranger. I designed this for the raver who wants to celebrate their body but not in a way that attracts the wrong kind of attention. The aim is to empower the wearer to own their physical presence. The suit is perfect for raving as it keeps you warm with the neon nylon and lets you breathe through the loopy jersey. It really is a trippy piece! And to my surprise it amazingly changes colour in certain lighting due to the tone of neon against the dark navy.

 

7. What were the biggest challenges you faced while completing your collection?

 

Gaining the courage to begin deconstructing and working with the tent material, as it was the fear of the unknown. I put it off not knowing where or how to begin to work with the complex structure of the tent. Initially I should have let the material guide my designs rather than vice versa, when I let the material guide my design, magic happened.

 

8. Do you have standout memory or experience from your time in the fashion world thus     far?

 

Fittings exhilarated me, putting all my emotions, energy and ideas into my pieces then finally on our amazing fit model Aoife. When she put on my pieces, she injected a different energy and enthusiasm into my creations and gave them a new lease of life. The first fitting of Aoife walking in the blue tent dress, seeing it move beautifully like a couture dress and seeing her and my tutors in awe and enjoying it, was a great feeling! Seeing my work come to fruition after the ‘inTENTS’ week of fashion, making and sewing in time for fittings

9. You were recently featured on TG4 in Taithi gan Teorainn, did the experience in taking part in that show alter your view of the fashion industry in any way?

Yes. Before taking part, my interest in upcycling was solely focused on the festival scene. The experience inspired me to question how garments are made. Before I make a purchase, I think about the backstory. I am now acutely aware that someone, somewhere made that garment – there are human hands and emotions stitched into the fabric. I now ask did the maker get satisfaction, gratification, inclusion and input? Humans are beautiful individual creative creatures, each of us have ideas and can bring something to the table. My vision for the fashion industry is an inclusive one, while also seeing the importance and advantage of using and reimagining material which already exists.

 

10. What current projects are you working on or what’s next on your agenda as a designer?

 

Developing my own brand, Fashionable Intents, as bread and butter selling in festivals, boutiques and online stores. Creating a market for fun fashion locally in Listowel. Working in fashion earning money in London. Hopefully more television work as Gaeilge with my own idea for a show in mind. I would like to collaborate with more creatives and become a part of a collective of craft makers and to become more immersed in the world of like-minded eco warriors. Although I will be based in Ireland, I will be going to London and New York for more industry experience.

 

11. What do you look forward to most about embarking on your fashion career?

 

The opportunities. The difference I can make by seeing a problem and fixing it. The dream becoming a reality.

 

 

12. Where can we find more of your work? (social media handles, website etc)

 

I can be found on Instagram @SIBIIHEFF. For business enquiries and collaborations email sibiiheff@gmail.com