New eco boutique in Kilkenny offers slow, sustainable and lasting style

Catherine O'Dwyer formerly of the Luxe Room in William Street has just launched a new boutique on Kieran Street in Kilkenny. Catherine has a lifetime of experience in the international fashion industry; she  worked with YSL and Joseph in London, was a personal shopper with Harvey Nichols in Dubai, and ran two boutiques in London. When she returned home to her native Kilkenny almost a decade ago, she opened Luxe Room, a much loved boutique on William Street. 

Unfortunately she has to close the William Street premises in 2017, but is now back with a new retail offering, this time also called Lux but this time minus the ‘e’.  

The shop in Kieran Street is in the former Norton Interiors premises and Catherine is settling in comfortably to her new bright and spacious store. As with her former boutique, the fashion focus remains on quality over quantity, timeless rather than trend-led pieces and slow versus fast fashion. 

While Catherine has always been an advocate for investment dressing and buying fewer but wisely chosen pieces, with her new incarnation she has also broadened out this philosophy to directly embrace sustainable style. With increasing consumer consciousness about the negative impact of fast fashion, Catherine was motivated to stock brands with a circular and sustainable ethos. 

She is ‘purchasing from small producers mainly on the continent’ which ‘gives it an eclectic feel’.  She says that customers ‘can expect to find beautiful individual pieces, tactile fabrics, cashmere, silks, wool and alpaca in winter time and linen, organic cotton, natural fabrics which are both breathable and comfortable.’ 

Overall the approach is ‘classic with a twist.’ 

“Wearability and longevity is guaranteed,” explains Catherine. 

Her brands include Fanfare, Hide the Label, Helene Galwas, Story of Mine, Bruna Collecion, Imaima, Brand Unique and Perspective. The clothing is beautifully made and designed to last. These are pieces that will live in any wardrobe for years.

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One of her finds, Fanfare is a  UK brand that describes themselves as, “Made slowly to wear every season, our garments are forever. Fanfare Label was created to bring you cool, contemporary clothing without compromise on ethics.” 

“It is a circular fashion brand that promotes a sustainable and moral way of doing things.”

Another label Helene Galwas wants to establish ‘sustainable wearable couture with a focus on selected fabrics, timeless designs and high standards of comfort and aesthetics.

With a clear statement against fast fashion, the label advocates more respect for design craftsmanship, the raw materials and the work that goes into a single piece of clothing.

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Catherine explains: “Buying locally is so important for our city to keep the shops we want and encourage new businesses to invest here. Building relationships with your local baker and candlestick maker, is a great way to be engaged with your local community, who will value your contribution and provide you with the best service and keep you in the loop as to new items, offers and so on."

“A good way of supporting your local shops is to buy gift vouchers,” Catherine concludes.

Lux Boutique is now open at 51 Kieran Street, Kilkenny, Monday to Saturday.