Kilkenny designer living her dream on Ireland Fashion Week & Young Designer of the Year

An emerging fashion designer from Kilkenny has shared what it's like to break into the industry and run a show at Ireland Fashion Week.

Áine O'Donnell is the founder of Áine Elizabeth Designs, which has been growing and gaining attention in recent years. 

In 2024, Áine was named as Young Fashion Designer of the Year, and has gone on to create pieces for many well-known faces, including Cork singer, Lyra. 

Her journey with fashion started many years ago though, with one of her earliest memories of wanting a career in the industry being at around age seven. 

"I was clearing out old stuff in my room, and I found a little journal, and I was like, 'When I grow up, I want to be a fashion designer'," Áine said. 

READ NEXT: RIP: Sadness as oldest resident in Kilkenny village passes away aged 102

Her mam is a hairdresser and her grandfather was a stained glass artist, so creativity was always around her as she was growing up. 

"Maybe that blood was flowing through me a little bit," Áine suggested.

That creativity really began to shine when she was in a bad car accident and ended up in hospital for a few weeks around the age of 11. 

She used the time to draw and sketch different designs and sketch out what she wanted the photo of the model wearing the design to look like. 

"I had such a creative little brain. The nurses would come in and they'd be like, 'Oh, I need this type of a top.' I used to draw it for them. They were encouraging," Áine said.

After that, she never looked back and decided to make an Instagram account to keep a diary for herself of her designs. 

In college, she didn't make a new Instagram account like others in her course, but rebranded, and that's how Áine Elizabeth came to be. 

While in college, Áine got to do internships for Paris and London Fashion Week. 

READ NEXT: Kilkenny men accused of driving a horse in a prohibited area

Paris was with Ashley McDonald, who has worked with the LVMH group for over 10 years.

London was with Paul Costello, who gave the Irish interns a chance that not all of them got. 

"Interns never really get to watch the show, but he brought us out, and we were sat front row watching the show. It was unbelievable," Áine said.

That was in 2024 - the same year that she received the accolade of Young Designer of the Year. 

Being recognised with that title helped to boost her name in the world of Irish designers.

"People were not noticing who I was, but people within the industry were noticing my designs," Áine explained. 

In October, she took part in Ireland Fashion Week, in a first-of-its-kind graduate show, which allowed graduates to participate for free. 

12 of her looks were featured, nine of which were made brand new and three of which were alterations of previous designs. 

Lyra and the founder of the Week, Ashley McDonald, wore her designs. 

READ NEXT: North Kilkenny boglands feature in exhibition by local artist

"Lyra came up to me, and she was like, 'Girl, I want that. Can I wear that to the after-party?' I was thinking she's obviously not going to wear it, she just wanted to try it on and then at the after-party, she walked in with it on and I nearly died. I literally nearly died," Áine explained.

As glamorous and exciting as that sounds, Áine outlined that actually, the industry is very "fickle" and "contrasting." 

"You have that, but then it's really just me in my sewing room at home. It can look so glamorous, but it's really not. I'll be there sewing in my pyjamas until 1 o'clock," she explained. 

While working on a project for a client, Áine shared how, over the period of roughly three months of creating a look, there is no sleep to be had and very little balance, especially as she has a full-time job as well. 

"It's working around the clock, but it's good. I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it," she explained.

READ NEXT: 'You deserve to be p****d off' - Kilkenny's TJ Reid on overcoming Tipp disappointment

In terms of inspiration, Áine always finds herself going back to the Georgian and Regency periods. 

Florals, feminine, and romantic are her favourite looks to create. 

These three elements can be seen on her most recent designs that Áine created for social media star Lottie Ryan.

It was revealed on Instagram last week that Áine created a number of looks for Lottie to wear to the upcoming Gossies, the awards show hosted by online magazine Goss.ie. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Àine Elizabeth Design (@aine_elizabeth_designs)

READ NEXT: 'The next chapter' - what do you think of this brand new pub in Kilkenny?

When it comes to the future of Áine Elizabeth Deigns, it appears that it will be bright and filled with success.

The dream for Áine is to own her own bridal boutique, but for now, late nights, lots of coffee, and Lottie Ryan at the Gossies are her focus.