The sparks between designers Niall Tyrrell and Donald Brennan can be "fiery or creative". And according to Tyrrell, working together "is a really good fusion" that allows them to create "something brilliant".
Having set up Oakes (located at 11 South William Street, Dublin 2) in 1996, the two launched their second label, Tyrrell & Brennan, in Dublin this week. They plan to travel to Paris in March and Berlin in July with their designs.
"Two creative thoughts are much stronger than one," said Donald Brennan, whose family is from Navan, Co Meath. Tyrrell, who is originally from Ahascragh in Co Galway, met Brennan in Paris in 1994 and they decided to join forces.
Olivia Mitchell TD, Liz McManus TD and Liz O'Donnell TD attended the show, which was held in the Ceramics Room of the National Museum, Kildare Street.
Economist Anne Kinsella, who is one of Tyrrell's cousins from Galway, said "their colours are amazing". Fashion, she said, "gives everybody their own individual style. It shows a bit of your personality, and their collection caters for a lot of different age groups".
Blathnaid Ní Chofaigh and Sheana Keane, of RTÉ 1's Afternoon Show, were there too - "mar bímid i gcónaí ag cuartú glitz agus glamour".
Elizabeth O'Mahony, a businesswoman from Donnybrook, wore one of the label's creations.
"Their tailoring is excellent. Their clothes make me feel great," she said.
Fashion, she added, "does a lot for your well-being".
Tina Roche, of Business in the Community, which was set up in 2000 to represent companies dedicated to corporate responsibility, was eager to see the new designs, as was Pamela Fitzmaurice, co-author with her brother and sister of The Blazing Salads Cookbook, and Karen Nobel, of Diep Le Shaker restaurant.
The new Tyrrell & Brennan Spring/Summer 2005 collection was summed up by Maria Fusco, of Ave Maria boutique in Dublin's Clarendon Street, as "very colourful, very bright, very young. It's frivolous".