Designer Dominic Sweeney with Riaghan O’ Callaghan.
BY KATE HEANEY
AN aspiring Donegal fashion designer is heading off to Paris today (Friday) to begin a three-year course at one of the city’s well-known fashion schools.
Dominic Sweeney from Kilcar developed his interest in fashion design during Transition Year when he managed to get experience at Avoca in Dublin.
Once Dominic found the fashion school he wanted to attend in Paris, he had to fill in a questionnaire and submit his portfolio for scrutiny. He need not have worried – he was accepted without even having to undergo an interview.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week Dominic said he was looking forward to living in Paris and would stay at the Irish Cultural Centre for the first year.
“When I worked in Avoca, a friend of mine’s father was head of fashion and I got to see the whole process – construction of a garment. I was always interested in the business. I did a course at Grafton College in dress design. It was very hands on.
“I entered a competition at Griffith College on reinvented fashion using second hand materials with mood boards explaining the process behind the design. My neighbour Megan Walsh was my model,” Dominic explained.
He entered the competition a second time and finished in the top six. He was then invited to come to Griffith College to show the garments he designed with the other award winning students.