In search of eden:Gillian Leavy, who is to open a bigger and brighter shop in Dundalk at the end of September, is having a huge relocation sale starting today in her former premises at 36 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk.
There will be significant reductions across the board from 22 designers, nine shoe brands and four bag labels. Keen bargain hunters will find John Rocha wool coats and suits down from €825 to €300, a tea dress by Tracey Boyd for €150 (reduced from €450), and a beaded tulle skirt for €300, less than half its original €880 price tag. Leavy's new shop, , a corner unit at 3 Park House, Market Square has modern glass frontage, and will house not only fashion and accessories, but also homewares, children's clothes and toys. The shop will be child- and adult-friendly, she says.
Rosy project
Aideen Bodkin has designed a limited edition T-shirt in aid of the Rose Project in Malawi, an Irish project fighting Aids in that country. They are on sale for €39 in the Kilkenny shops, Dublin, Galway and Killarney; Marchioness in Kilkenny; Monica John, Dublin and Cork; Seagreen, Monkstown, Co Dublin; Scruples, Naas, Co Kildare; and Zulu in Sligo.Bodkin will be one of a number of Irish designers showing evening wear at the Irish Embassy in Paris on September 20th at a cocktail evening, where guests will include attendees at the Ireland Fund Ball, officials from the Irish and French Rugby federations and other high-profile members of the Paris community.
Hermès prize
A prize in honour of the visionary Emile Hermès, third-generation member of the famous family that ran the company until 1951, has just been announced in Paris. The triennial prize will be awarded to the best and most innovative design on a chosen theme - the inaugural one being "la légèreté au quotidian", everyday lightness - applied to objects for travel and the home. The competition is open to entrants in three categories: independent professional designers; graduates or final-year students of design, architecture, visual or applied arts; and people without degrees with a minimum of three years' experience in the field of design, from 16 European countries, including Ireland. First prize is €50,000, second place is worth €25,000 and third €15,000. Candidates will be selected in March 2008 and the winners announced in late June next year. Full details can be read online from September 15th at www.prixemilehermes.com.