Each week we shine a spotlight on some of our favourite brands and businesses - giving you the inside track on the people and the products you need to know for 2023. 

Fashion

Aran Woollen Mills

Founded by Maire Hughes in 1965, Aran Woollen Mills currently employs over 120 people in Westport in Mayo in the west of Ireland. The brand currently produces over 300 styles for wholesale stockists to choose from - across men, womens, childrens and homeware styles.

Aran Woollen Mills produces five different ranges including a SuperSoft Merino range and their 100% Merino Wool range - soft, warm, easy-to-wear garments with both ranges seeing the introduction of new colours and styles in 2022 and 2023. 
 
Other ranges in the brand's collection include a range of traditional styles made in 100% worsted wool - a yarn associated with the tradiional Aran sweater, and the Handknit Merino Wool Collection - featuring beautiful hand- knitted designs. 
 
The brand’s Lifestyle Collection offers a mix of products in both traditional and contemporary styles that are designed for functional everyday wear.

The brand has a white labelling service available as well as worldwide shipping and low minimum order quantities.

Check out the Aran Woollen Mills exhibitor profile where you can discover more about the brand, enquire about their products or even set up a meeting. 

Jewellery

eve ray designs

Founded by Kerry native Maeve Barry, eve ray designs is a Dublin-based jewellery brand founded in 2020. Having launched a small collection of mirrored earrings in 2020, Barry grew her brand slowly via seasonal pop up shops and markets both on- and offline. Her designs can now be found in a number of stores alongside the prestigious surroundings of the National Gallery of Ireland and The Glucksman art museum and gallery in Cork where they are available at the gift shops.
 
Barry’s first collection was inspired by, and named after, the work of Spanish artist Joan Miró - taking inspiration from the abstract shapes and colours used in his work. Maeve also likes to put a contemporary spin on traditional Irish motifs or symbols as well as those representing her childhood. 
 
With extensive experience in graphic design, media communications, brand management and public relations, it’s safe to say that Barry has used her experience to develop and promote her brand of jewellery and eve ray designs has featured in a number of Ireland’s top publications. 

Check out the eve ray designs exhibitor profile where you can discover more about the brand, enquire about their products or even set up a meeting. 

Home & Gift 

Sarah McKenna Ceramics 

Ceramicist Sarah McKenna makes pottery and tiles from slabs of clay impressed with wallpaper or stamped with words. Her work is textured and evocative - the sum of many steps in the making. She makes beautiful pieces including vases, candleholders, plates, platters and bowls as well as framed tile wall art.

McKenna is back at Showcase in January after a three-year hiatus during which she launched her Irish Coast tiles - ‘Scáth na gealaí’ or ‘Moon shadow’ and ‘Oíche geal’ or ‘Bright night’ which are currently sold in a limited number of stockists in Ireland. At the time of writing McKenna is working on a new colourway to add to her Irish Coast collection. These new additions will feature sunset colours of purple and pinks. 

Check out the Sarah McKenna Ceramics exhibitor profile where you can discover more about the brand, enquire about their products or even set up a meeting.