This Fall/Winter collection is inspired by the town of Ballybunion, Ireland and an ancient folktale of Celts and Vikings. Ballybunion is a village on the towering seaside cliffs of southern Ireland. Under the village, tunnels and caves dug by ancient Celts contain colorful mineral deposits within the jagged rock. The inhabitants of Ballybunion still tell a haunting story of the nine daughters of a Celtic chieftain who fell in love with invading Viking warriors. When the chieftain discovered that they planned to run off together, he lured them to a chasm to find a piece of metal jewelry and had them thrown to their deaths.
My dark color palette and my choice of primitive fabrics like leather, suede, and furs were drawn from this sinister story. The collection features chunky crochet work and hand-woven suede panels. These handmade aspects are contrasted with technical rock texture jacquards, shimmering crepe prints, and metallic beading. The Celtic metalworking and silver shields inspired an original print and silver accents throughout the collection. The silhouettes are oversized and tied with belts to create shape. The sheer fabric qualities mixed with heavy knits and furs creates depth and a layered look. It gives a nod to the romanticized image of a northern winter Viking warrior heading off to battle.
