Nov 30, 2024

Kerry designer Colin Horgan on celebrity clients and his 'seasonless' collection

Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Mabel, Rita Ora, Danielle Galligan, and Laura Whitmore have all been snapped wearing his designs, but Kerry man Colin Horgan seems to have remained incredibly humble throughout his stratospheric rise.

"Working with private customers and directly with customers over the last 12 months, I really saw a change in how they would react to pieces, and feel like they had been lifted from the products they were ordering and the fittings involved. I wanted a bit of that."

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Filled with models, stylists, influencers, industry professionals and friends - some of whom flew in from as far as New York for the ocassion - the Loft Bar was a stylish celebration of Horgan's hard work, with the vast majority of those in attendance (including surprise musical guest, Jazzy) wearing his designs.

"It is a bit overwhelming; I don't think I've ever been in a room with so much top-stitching," he jokes. "It really justifies all the hard work. You spend six months with something and it all comes down to this big night, so it's a sensory overload when the night actually happens."

"I'm delighted," he continues. "You see the pieces you were so personally involved in and you see how people are wearing them and styling them and introducing them to their wardrobes. It's always intersting to see how they see the clothing."

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Having got his start at the Limerick School of Art & Design, where he completed his BA in Fashion Design before furthering his studies with an MA in Fashion Womenswear at the Royal College of Art in 2017, Horgan says his first collections were all about "making noise".

"There's so many emerging brands," he muses. "I just wanted to be reactive and think about the business end. The first three collections really PR-led and helped certain talents see it, and really celebrate that, but then I started thinking I might want to make a little bit of money," he laughs. "Otherwise, it's a really expensive hobby."

Focusing on the customer experience, Horgan says he wants to create pieces that will "stand the test of time" and ensure longevity.

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Going forward, the designer says he has set his sights on the fragrance industry ("I feel like I'm working on the visual but I would also love another sense), but when it comes to his clothing, his next goal is to dress Rihanna.

"I think, ultimately, I've always loved the idea of dressing Rihanna - I just want her to notice me," he laughs. "Honestly, I celebrate everybody. I'm happy for whoever wants to wear the brand."