A fashion history mood board.
I RECENTLY came across an exciting ten-week course which is starting soon at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. The course is a Fashion Design and Merchandising Course and it will commence on Thursday, September 25.
This evening course will run for ten weeks, every Thursday from 6pm to 8pm in the LYIT. This is a course for anyone of any skill level who has an interest in fashion, fashion design, illustration or who just wants to take up a new hobby and try something different. I always find that September is a great month so start new things and take up new hobbies. This course is definitely right up my street and I am delighted to say that I have enrolled and I am very excited to get started.
Throughout the ten weeks students will learn how to sketch and illustrate, research fashion history, understand sustainability, create designs based on cultural diversity, design with the aid of computers, life sketching and fashion illustration classes, study the Irish fashion industry, construct mood boards and generate trend reports, generate buying tactics within a retail environment.
In the end, participants will have a better understanding of the industry, the processes and the vast opportunities this field has to offer. This course was designed for LYIT by New York fashion designer Sheila Clancy O’ Donnell.
Sheila O’Donnell had a passion for fashion from the age of 5 years old. Displaying garments on the bedroom wall she had to share with her mother in rural town in Upstate New York, she started her journey into the Fashion World at Macy’s. Starting as a sales advisor, she moved up to Junior buyer for Esprit, never losing sight of her ultimate goal to be a dress designer.
She obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree at Marist College in New York, winning two coveted Silver Needle Awards, earning her recognition In the New York Fashion Industry.
Her fashion Director at Marist was a former Design Director at Halston, so through him, Sheila was lucky enough to work with Mark Jacob and Michael Kors, two of her many fashion heroes. This in turn opened more doors for Sheila.
Starting a dream career as a design apprentice at Liz Claiborne, an iconic American Sportswear label, was the beginning of a ‘long & wonderful ‘dream career.
Sheila says that the only thing better than that is inspiring others to fulfil their dream in this creative, fast paced and rewarding field. Currently, Sheila is co-organizer of the Fashion Events at The Cork Film Festival in November 2014.
She is delighted to have to opportunity to have fellow Donegal Designer, Edel Mac Bride, on board in this unique Fashion venture.
You can find out more about the Fashion Design & Merchandising course at: Foundations in Fashion Design & Merchandising, Ireland on Facebook.
Some of the talented designers who will be participating in Cork Film Fest Fashion Event on 15 Nov. Edel Macbride-Donegal Knitwear, Claire Hurley-Cork Millinery, Kate Ramsey-Poland/Limerick Felt Accessories, Sheila Clancy O’Donnell, Emily Waszak-USA/Japan/Dublin Upcycled Clothing & Accessories.
Zara McDaid can be contacted on Facebook, search ‘Zara Mc Daid Art’, www.zaramcdaid-art.blogspot.ie or e-mail is zaramcdaid@hotmail.com
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