The Dublin-based designer Sharon Sweeney studied and worked in the environmental sector, which contributed to her passion for and commitment to sustainability in terms of using sustainable, organic, and locally sourced fabrics.

Photographer Joanna Mitroi

The collection Swanzy Land is constructed by Irish Linen, cotton, ramie, Tencel as well as deadstock fabrics.

It pays homage to the late pioneering modernist artist Mary Swanzy, an Irish landscape and genre artist, who dived into many different styles, among which she is acclaimed for being one of the country’s first abstract painters. Sweeney makes similar use of a muted and pastel colour palette throughout.

A pale lilac short pantsuit fuses feminine details like the Moschino-esque heart-shaped buttons with a harsher geometrical and abstract futuristic shape and cutouts. A white cropped Renaissance blouse with huge puff sleeves and tight button-downs on the sleeves brings past and future together. Sweeney showcases an interesting and abstract aesthetic with clashing contrast, yet they jointly create something new and concise.

www.sharonsweeney.com

Radiqal Tat, a London-based brand headed by artist-come-designer Veronica Fox, debuted its collection with Fashions Finest on the 18th of September as part of LFW.

Photographer Mikey San

Featuring only plus-sized models, Radiqal Tat opened Fashions Finest’s LFW show. The explosive beat of ‘90s house music marked the beginning of the event.

One by one, the models showcased Radiqal Tat's SS22 collection which combined mesh, foam padding, deconstructed sports tops, a classic pencil-skirt silhouette and a skin-tone palette.

Completing the look, the models were styled with vibrant peach-coloured wigs. The collection is committed to playing with conventional ideas of fashion. Opting for what Fox calls an “almost run-of-the-mill” look, with bits missing and “bits not quite covering what should be covered”, the collection successfully transports the spectator away from the everyday. 

Fox’s declaration of positive otherness and escapism in her work, she says was greatly inspired by '80s performance artist and maverick, Leigh Bowery, as well as Bowery’s collaborator dancer Michael Clark and designer duo BodyMap. All together they challenged the mainstream notions of fashionability through costume, music and movement.

Speaking to the event’s Creative Director, Tanya, she noted that the theme for the day was confidence and to ‘Bring the Fire’. Diversity in all forms was also key: 'Diversity is crucial because it opens up a different dimension to the world.' And Radiqal Tat certainly did this.