It’s been a long two years right? But luckily Irish fashion brands are here to bring the joy, colour and fun that we’ve been missing in fashion while stuck wearing loungewear on our sofas.

“Dopamine Dressing” or “Feelgood Fashion”, whatever your preferred phrase, colourful clothing can be a fast track to a good mood day. Think punchy prints, electrifying colour palettes, tactile textures and vibrant outfit combinations this year as fashion elevates our moods and consumers turn to dressing up rather than dressing down.

As society begins to reopen we are optimistic that life is getting back on track and with it our ability to dress for ourselves and dress for fun - after all if fashion can’t be heartening, expressive and life-enhancing then what’s the point?

And it’s not just us that thinks so - from Vogue to Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia to Glamour Magazine, fashion editors are going wild for the idea that our clothing and colour choices can elevate our moods.

Pinterest Business predicts that “dressing loud is the new dressing down” for 2022 while The Face tells readers to dress themselves happy. 

Pleasure seekers at Showcase will not be short on choice as Irish designers bring more than Kelly Green to the show this spring. When it comes to colour and print, many of the designers at the show have an intuitive sense of colour and finely-honed skills when it comes to combining colours to best effect. 

Vibrant yellows, zingy greens and bold oranges have taken over the international runways, street style doyennes have embraced the craze, and, here at Showcase 2022 we have everything your customers need to get happy with great clothes and accessories they can feel good about.

Here's our Top Ten: 

Clare O'Connor scarves are inspired by her vibrant and energetic abstract paintings and are seasonless, statement pieces made from natural fibres such as linen, silk, wool, bamboo and modal. Designed in Ireland and handcrafted in Como, Italy, they are instantly recognisable and beautifully presented. 

Visit Clare O’Connor at Stand J99 

Landa Bags is a relative newcomer on the Irish design scene but one which has fast become a favourite among the fashion press, buyers and customers alike. At Landa, functionality and luxury combine to create stylish and beautiful accessories which are also functional and practical. We love that the bags can work over the shoulder or crossbody and the new plexiglass chains are a beautiful addition to the products adding a touch of luxury as well as functionality. For 2022, the brand has added three new designs to the range including the beautiful powder blue ‘Mini Olivo’ bag seen here. 

Visit Landa Bags at Stand J17

Urban Aran is about connecting with the contemporary creative culture of Ireland through founder Christine Murphy’s love of textiles, luxury fabrics and use of bold colour. Her fashion collection is inspired by the Waterford Walls urban art initiative as well as graffiti tagging in her hometown of Waterford. Urban Aran creates sophisticated, bold, colourful yet considered luxury knitwear for modern lifestyles using ethically sourced natural fibres.  

Visit Urban Aran  at Stand C1

Wendy Louise Knight, founder of Wendy Louise Designs has millinery in her blood - her grandparents having owned a small hat factory in Luton, England where she spent much of her childhood. Originally from Oxford, Knight relocated to Ireland more than 10 years ago and established herself as a bespoke hat maker where she has enjoyed great success for many years. Her new ‘Lou’ range is a response to the change in trends brought about by the pandemic and bridges the gap between formal and casual with a range of vintage velvet and bejewelled clips and headbands - the ultimate in garden-party chic.

Visit Wendy Louise Designs at Stand J37

With a tagline ‘Big on energy  |  Strong on colour’ how could we not include Jill & Gill in this edit? Founded by designers Jill Deering and Gillian Henderson, Jill & Gill is an independent collaborative Irish business founded by these two designers who thrive on creating fine art prints and unisex wearable art which incorporates colour and print to inspire the wearer and the viewer. 

Visit Jill & Gill at Stand C68

Following the finding of a message in a bottle, designer Niamh Gillespie was inspired to create an accessories brand that conveys a strong message of positivity, fun, hope and love - things we could all do with right now. Her scarves mix typographic slogans mixed with bold, statement prints which are then printed onto beautiful silks with hand-rolled edges. At Showcase,  Tidings will show a new collection of luxury menswear and womenswear accessories. 

Visit Tidings at Stand J76

Founder of the Irish made award-winning brand, Sandia, retro style lover and artist Betzy Nina is inspired the tropical vibes of her native Caribbean childhood combined with Dublin's fashion street scene to create lightweight colourful wearable art. Retro interior design is also one of the designer's inspirations when it comes to the colours, shapes and textures of her bold, colourful and surprisingly lightweight statement jewellery. 

Visit Sandia at Stand J100 

Melissa Curry’s PÓG brand is an award-winning Irish jewellery and gift brand with a strong focus on colour, tactility, versatility and consciousness.  At Showcase, this year, Curry will present her new sensory collection that has been designed with a spinning feature that acts as a fidget mechanism to soothe anxiety in support of mental health and wellbeing. This feature is present in a range of rings and cufflinks. PÓG shares the vibrancy of modern day Ireland - youthful, diverse and progressive in the form of a “póg” or kiss. 

Visit Melissa Curry PÓG at Stand C21

PEELO is an Irish designed handbag and accessory brand created by Julie Peelo. The brand creates modern pieces using luxury Italian leathers which are handcrafted in Portugal. The brand’s goal is to create beautiful pieces designed to last and be loved by the user. We love the mix of classic tones with unexpected colour pops as well as the roomy tote bags in zingy “Volcanic Orange” and “Ibiza Blue” - let’s face it - even the descriptions make us want to jet off somewhere sunny.

Visit PEELO at Stand J88

Doireann Healy launched art and fashion brand Begley & Bowie with a pop-up shop in 2019. Based in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, the illustrator and screenprinter designs art prints and clothes that are bursting with colour and positive vibes. Her first range celebrated Ireland, its places, artists and playwrights, but she has since worked on themes such as her love of the sea. Her latest collection celebrates a love of colour and the joy it can bring and features her trademark fluoro and pastel colours.

Visit Begley & Bowie at Stand C89.