NCAD student Clodagh Leavy tapped as 'Designer to Watch'
NCAD and Brown Thomas Arnotts marked 10 years of collaboration for the 'Designer to Watch' Bursary Award last week, naming fashion design student Clodagh Leavy as this year's winner.
Hailing from Co. Meath, Clodagh, a final-year fashion design student at the National College of Art and Design, won the coveted title thanks to her colourful collection of clothing, Anna's Studio.
As the winner of this year's award, Leavy will receive a bursary worth €4,000 and the opportunity to display her collection at Brown Thomas Arnotts this summer.
"My whole collection and concept is based around my granny, Anna-Marie," she told RTÉ Lifestyle. "She was a watercolour artist for over 60 years, and growing up, she was always my biggest influence."
Sadly, Anna-Marie passed away last summer, but Clodagh says she was a huge inspiration to her as an aspiring artist: "She actually went to NCAD back in the day, so she was delighted when she found out that I was going and studying fashion."
Drawing on memories of her grandmother's studio, which she described as being filled to the brim with colour, texture and stories, Clodagh says her collection is hugely personal to her.
"I created a really bright collection that reflected her personality," she explains, describing her creations as maximalist, playful, wearable, and fun.
"There's lots of smocking, quilting, embroidery," says the up-and-coming designer, who recently interned with British fashion company Molly Goddard.
"It's quite daunting, but I'm excited to actually get into the industry now," she muses. "I'm very passionate about things being made in Ireland and being a designer at home."
Announcing the winner at NCAD, Darren Feeney, Head of Art Direction and Creative, Brown Thomas Arnotts, said:
"The standard from this year's fifteen finalists was incredibly high, but Clodagh Leavy's collection truly stood out. Inspired by her grandmother's art, she presented beautifully hand-painted garments that showcased a confident use of colour, volume, and texture."
Members of the public can view Clodagh's work and all NCAD graduates' collections and designs, across all disciplines, as part of NCAD WORKS 2025 at the National College of Art and Design graduate showcase. It runs from Friday, 6 June to Saturday, 14 June.
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