IIBN brought 2011 to a close with a fantastic turnout at the Gore Hotel London on Wednesday December 7^th.   Over 100 people joined IIBN Board Members to reflect on what has been a very active and successful year.    We were also delighted to welcome so many new faces and look forward to you all becoming members in 2012.  Our aim is to continue to grow and offer real networking opportunities for Irish people in the UK and across the globe.

We are finalising an array of exciting and inspirational speaker events for 2012, along with various workshops and networking events so be sure to check the IIBN website in the New Year – www.iibn.com

We would also like to encourage all our members to actively use the IIBN LinkedIn group as a way to introduce yourselves to other IIBN members and to engage in real networking – whether virtual or face to face.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and successful New Year

Le gach dea ghui agus La Shona Nollaig dhuit

IIBN

IIBN was delighted with its first Irish fashion showcase event which took place on Tuesday, 27th September in the City of London.

Over 180 delegates attended the fashion show which kicked off with an introduction from Stephen Quinn, Managing Director and publisher of Vogue.  Stephen introduced the event and touched on his hugely successful career at the forefront of British advertising.  Stephen has for the past 20 years been publisher of Vogue.

Designers on the night included:

Jen Kelly of Jen Kelly Designs:  Jen is an haute couture fashion designer, creating clothes by hand for female clients from Ireland and beyond.

Project 51:  Housed in a 19th Century Georgian building, Project 51 - Irish Design Collective – is a high end NYC Soho-style luxury boutique filled with the best of Irish fashion, jewellery, millinery, accessories and furniture.

The evening concluded with drinks and canapés and guests were able to view and buy many of the clothes and jewellery showcased during the evening.

This event was in partnership with Arthur Cox who are corporate members of IIBN.

Due to the popularity of this event it is hoped to take it on a road show next year which will cover all three IIBN chapters – Dublin, London and concluding in NY.

Bios and running order

Heather Finn (Project 51 Designer)

Heather Finn’s passion for colour and texture is immediately obvious in her vibrant signature looks.

A fashion graduate of NCAD, she has been experimenting for over six years with pattern – mixing traditional methods of crochet, hand knitting, felting and machine knitting to create her uniquely colourful knitwear collection. She finds inspiration in textiles and interiors as well as the works of Abstract colourists like Howard Hodgkins or Paul Gauguin. Her design approach is to focus on the emotional qualities of colour and yarn, carefully considering nuances of tone, hue, colour mix and balance in each garment. Heather Finn’s ambition is to give ‘joy’ to every person who wears a piece from her distinctive collection.

For more on Heather visit www.heatherfinn.com and www.facebook.com/heatherfinnknitwear

Sinéad Doyle (Project 51 Designer)

Sinéad studied fashion in Limerick School of Art and Design before undertaking an MA at London College of Fashion in Menswear. She has worked in Dublin, London and Venice specialising in tailoring and corsetry. Her garments are made in high quality wools, silks and cottons for the luxury daywear market. Sinéad’s work is frequently featured in the Irish and UK press and has been published as far afield as Japan in Vision magazine. Sinéad has won numerous awards for her work in both the UK and Ireland including the Ester Martin Award, the RTE/ Taispeantas Award in 2003, and most recently the Best Newcomer Award at KFW in 2011. In the UK she was feted as one of the top under 25 year old designers in Britain by Noisefestival in 2006.
For more on Sinéad visit www.sineaddoyle.com and www.facebook.com/sineaddoyledesign

Jen Kelly (Jen Kelly Designs)

Fashion Designer Jen Kelly has built a twin reputation as a fashion designer for private clients and as a costume designer for stage and broadcast performance. In both fields his talents are in demand at the highest levels.

Jen was born in Derry in 1960 and started his professional life designing for operas, television dramas and light entertainment shows for RTE in Dublin. He went on to work with RAI in Rome and FOX in Los Angeles. Jen graduated with First Class Honours from the National College of Art and Design in 1986. Three years later he established his fashion business in Molesworth Street in Dublin, where he designs for clients including Heads of State and stars of stage, screen and the music industry.  Jen has successfully shown fashion collections in New York City and has recently been selected to show in Japan.

At its height of popularity there were three different Riverdance companies on tour at any one time, the Lagan, the Liffey and the Lee, and Jen was in charge of all the costumes – which amounted to 400 per show per week!

Jen who is the only haute couture designer in Ireland has designed clothes for many leading women throughout Ireland and the world including the Princess of Saudi Arabia, Mary Robinson, Former Irish President, Celia Larkin, Boyzone, Naomi Campbell, Actress Roma Downey, Christy Turlington

Jen has designed amazing one-off bridal wear for many of Ireland’s most glamorous weddings. He feels the beauty and allure of couture is that it’s made for you and only you! Couture isn’t about high fashion or current trends. It’s deeper that that.  It’s timeless elegance, finding the perfect style that suits one individual.

For more on Jen visit www.jenkellydesign.com

Accessories:

Hats by Martha Lynn

Spending countless hours of her childhood in her mother’s studio in Roscommon, Martha discovered her love for art at an early age and went on to complete a degree in Fine Art, specialising in sculpture at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

Following her graduation, Martha worked as a 3D visual artist for a leading architectural and design company in Dublin but realised her passion for millinery after studying under renowned Milliner, Ms. Aileen Keogan, at the Grafton Academy in Dublin, a fantastic teacher and an inspiration.

In 2010, Martha spent some time in London undertaking internships with both Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones. During her time there she worked on hats for both Valentino and Galliano for AW2010 fashion week.

For more on Martha visit marthalynnmillinery.com

Gloves by Paula Rowan

Paula Rowan was already one of Ireland’s leading stockists of luxury leather goods when she turned her attention to design.  For almost two decades she has devoted her career to the finer things in life, and nowhere is this better evidenced than at her stylish leather boutique in Central Dublin. And it was Paula’s knowledge of fine leather, coupled with her background in design, that led her to ask herself that inevitable question – “why not design my own range of leather gloves?”

Paula’s approach is simple – use only the finest materials, and apply only traditional glovemaking techniques. Yet her commitment to quality is total and her attention to detail is painstaking. Every choice of hide, lining and colour has been carefully considered, and every nuance of stitching and detail has been selected by a master of design. The results are there to see for anybody with an eye for fine leather. But it is only by wearing the gloves that people will truly experience the art of quality glovemaking.

For more information on Paula visit www.glovesbypaularowan.ie

Footwear from Fitzpatricks

Since the store first opened its doors in 1926, Fitzpatrick’s has always prided itself on a reputation for excellence and offering the finest-quality merchandise. Fitzpatricks Footwear ltd is a family business, which is probably one of the principal reasons why the traditions laid down at its foundation, over 80 years ago, are still vigorously maintained. As each year goes on, Fitzpatricks continues to grow, adapt, reassess and re-invent itself.

1926: In October of 1926 Mr Thomas Fitzpatrick and his wife Ellen opened the doors of their first shop under the Henry Street wing of the new GPO building making it one of the first shops to open there after the 1916 rising.

1933: Mr Fitzpatrick decided to extend his business, and premises were acquired at No14 South Great Georges Street and so the second shop was born. In 1950 Tom’s son Sean joined the business and in 1951 he took over as manager of the Georges street store.

1943: O’Connell Street was now a busy shopping street and was the third location in which Tom decided to open another shop. By this time each of Tom’s sons were in charge of a particular branch, all three of them being keenly interested in footwear. Tom’s son Michael took over as manager of O’Connell Street but later transferred as manager to Henry Street.

1948: Fitzpatricks Shoes becomes a limited company and Tom’s son now takes over as director.

1956: A second adjoining building is bought on South Georges Street. The shop now doubles in size.

1961: On Wednesday 1st November 1961 Fitzpatricks opens its 10,0000 sqft flagship store in Ireland’s premier retail location Grafton Street.

1978: The business was split into three companies with each of Tom’s sons gaining control of their own stores. Michael ended up taking charge of the Grafton Street store and his son Declan was appointed Buyer having started in the business in 1973. He was later joined by his brother Paul after he had qualified as an accountant.

2005: Fitzpatricks opens in the award winning Dundrum Town Centre, combining a stylish shop fit with high end luxury brands and our own Fitzpatricks Shoes brand. This store is a huge success with the younger set who enjoy shopping for the latest addition to their shoe collections.

2008: Fitzpatricks opens in the new CHQ Centre in the Docklands, Irelands newest and trendiest centre in the heart of Dublin. Built in 1820 as a wine and tobacco warehouse it has been restored by the Dublin Docklands authority. In keeping with the Fitzpatricks image the store carries the full range of designer shoes as well as their own label Fitzpatricks Shoes and Irelands first UGG shop in shop concept. The present Fitzpatricks is now a fourth generation family business which prides itself on its heritage and customer service. We look forward to the next 80 years serving you.

2011: Fitzpatricks begin trading online as part of their expansion plans

For more information on Fitzpatricks visit www.fitzpatricksshoes.com.

Bags from Anna Vahey (Ana Faye Bags)

Anna studied fashion at Limerick School of Art and Design before undertaking an MA at Central St. Martins in London. After working as a fashion and accessories designer for several years in London, Italy and China, Anna Vahey’s passion for handbags and love of Ireland led her back home to start designing and making her own collection.

This collection of must have handbags are made in Anna’s workshop in Strandhill in the Sligo.
Ana has won several award at Showcase Ireland and most recently was a finalist at the Golden Egg Fashion Awards

For more on Anna visit www.anafaye.com

Click here to review photos taken on the night

On Wednesday, 21st July, IIBN celebrated its third annual Summer BBQ at The Rotunda restaurant at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London. The weather was exceptionally kind and over 100 IIBN members attended the BBQ which was held outside with stunning views of the Battlebridge Basin waterfront.

Kate Walsh, a journalist with the Sunday Times was in attendance and wrote the following piece:

Irish eyes smiling through the gloom by Kate Walsh

‘It wasn’t a good week for Ireland – Moody’s downgraded its sovereign bonds on Monday – so it was with some trepidation that I attended an IIBN (Irish International Business Network) bash on Wednesday. The atmosphere, however, was more wake than funeral.

Orla Kiely, the fashion designer, rubbed shoulders with Liam Brady, the former footballer, and Frank Salmon, the wealthy owner or CMS Peripherals.

Eamon Lyons, the property developer and founder of Tudor Homes, was in attendance. The Irish, it seems, are building things again: Tudor is responsible for the new egg-shaped towers next to Old Street roundabout on the fringe of the City.

As well as building, they have started spending anew. Almost everyone I spoke to is going to Galway Races this week. And, instead of slumming it on Ryanair, they’re taking private jets from City airport…..Er, what downgrade?’

Click on the picture to view all photos

We are delighted to announce Powerscourt as IIBN’s newest sponsor and we look forward to introducing you to them in the coming weeks and months.

Powerscourt is a strategic communications consultancy founded by Rory Godson who was Irish Editor of The Sunday Times and then Business Editor based in London. He was head of corporate affairs at Goldman Sachs before starting Powerscourt in 2004. It helps companies and senior individuals tell their story in a manner which delivers their overall strategic goals. Based in London, it is a full-service firm which offers strategic advice and counsel, financial results and calendar communications, analyst and investor relations, Mamp;A and fund-raising communications, market intelligence, crisis management, profile-raising. It provides financial public relations and investor relations to many leading firms. The client list is a Who’s Who of major UK and Irish businesses.

For full details regarding the excellent work carried out by Powerscourt visit its website at www.powerscourt-group.com

Should you wish to connect with Powerscourt regarding your own business and/or its strategy please do email me by return email and I will connect you with a suitable member of the Powerscourt team.

Its team comprises former bankers, brokers, editors and communications professionals.