Models Emily and Marwa with Suzi O'Keeffe Design & Crafts Council Ireland, Mary Palmer, Chair of Showcase Ireland, Oisín Geoghegan, LEO Head of Enterprise, Fingal and Jennifer Melia, Divisional Manager - High Potential Start-Ups, Enterprise Ireland at the launch of Showcase 2022.

LEO Meath crafters at Showcase 2022

Support for five local designers to exhibit in RDS

Published: Fri 25 Feb 2022, 11:14 AM

Last updated: Fri 25 Feb 2022, 11:49 AM

Local Enterprise Office Meath is delighted to support five craft and design clients from across County Meath at Showcase 2022 between 27th February and 2nd March at the RDS.

Working in partnership with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) around the country set up a dedicated area within Showcase every year– the Local Enterprise Showcase - enabling close to 100 designers, manufacturers and craftspeople to sell directly to international buyers.

The businesses from Meath are Siobhan Daly Designs, Clare O’Connor, Bríd Fanning Art, Customs Keepsakes, and Deeca Design, who will be exhibiting at the Local Enterprise Showcase Hall with collections across fashion, jewellery, home and giftware. A particular emphasis is placed on new products to market, providing retailers with opportunities to discover and stock up on the latest design-led products, many of which are unique to the show.

Training and briefing days were organised for the clients, along with a subsided support from LEO Meath to enable clients attend Showcase 2022.

Caoimhe Delany, Business Advisor at LEO Meath said: "We are thrilled to have our largest ever representation from the craft and design sector in Meath attending this year’s showcase. With five talented businesses, showcasing their products to both national and international buyers, this show is undoubtably one of the most important of the year in securing repeat and new sales on their order books."

She add: "Showcase provides an exceptional opportunity for our clients to meet with many International retailers under the one roof, giving them a unique prospect of developing new export markets without the expense of travelling to multiple overseas markets."

Founded in 1976, Showcase generates over €20 million of sales orders over the four days of the show. After a break to the physical show in 2021 due to the pandemic, the new hybrid trade only show (both an in person and digital event) will be an enthralling reflection of the changed design and craft landscape in Ireland and internationally.

"In addition, LEO Meath are planning to develop a new Craft Collective in Meath to showcase and develop the diverse range of craft makers and designers we have on our doorstep in Meath."

For more information on joining the Meath Craft Collective, email Caoimhe.delany@meathcoco.ie.

For more information on supports available to small businesses in Meath please visit www.localenterprise.ie/meath

THE EXHIBITORS

BRID FANNING

Bríd Fanning is an artist based in Oldcastle. She says: "Working from my home studio I create art where I explore our more obscure treasure of Irish traditions and folklore. Whether it’s our people, animals or our landscape, I like to express who we are through bold colour. I create original art in oils and cold wax and acrylics. From these I produce archival museum quality limited editions prints. I also create beautiful soft velvet cushions that use eco inks and are made here in Ireland and create unique Irish art bags that are made from recycled plastic bags. I was invited to have my first exhibition in Galway and my second one will be near Oldcastle. This is my first opportunity to showcase my work as all my sales to date have been online.

"Because my brand takes a nostalgic view of our Irish heritage, I see an opportunity to grow my brand internationally to the Irish Diaspora. I started trading just over a year ago in June 2020 and I have already sold original artworks to Newfoundland in Canada, New York, London and mainland Europe, so I feel Showcase would be a fantastic opportunity for me to reach a wider audience internationally."

www.Brídfanningart.com

CLARE O'CONNOR ART

Clare O’Connor from Dunboyne is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer who launched a brand of wearable art in 2018.

She explains: "My art is all about vibrant colour, movement and energy and I have brought that sense of colour and energy into my accessory ranges and homewares. All my scarves are created in Como in Italy in small print runs, they are limited editions of my paintings, season-less and collectible, in-line with slow sustainable fashion. My collections are available in silk, cashmere, wool, model, linen and bamboo which are all natural fabrics. During lockdown I wanted to diversify and access broader markets to expand my accessories and to include homewares. I created a small range of tote-bags and cushions in 100 per cent organic bamboo and 100 per cent organic cotton which made in Ireland and a new range of limited edition prints so that customers could access my art and include a print with an accessory as a gift.

Clare adds: "I feel attending Showcase will give me a chance to present my ranges and new designs coming into 2022. I have connected with a lot of stores here and abroad over the past few years and many customers have asked will they be able to see my collections at Showcase this year so I think it will be a great opportunity to meet them. I feel as we are coming out of Covid, Showcase should attract a lot of buyers this year as they have been prevented from travelling for the past two years and they will really want to engage with Irish brands like myself and to discover new brands."

https://www.clareoconnor.net/

CUSTOM KEEPSAKES

Custom Keepsakes is an Irish, family run business specialising in designing and creating unique keepsakes for all of life’s special moments. A passion for product design, laser cutting and printing along with a love of gift giving allows us to create pieces made ‘with love and lasers’ in Co Meath.

Custom Keepsakes believe you should love the gifts you give and pride themselves on using high quality materials to create emotive gifts that can be treasured and loved for years to come.

They have recently expanded the business with the aid of a Business Expansion Grant from LEO Meath which has enabled them increase our manufacturing capacity significantly.

Yvonne Sheehy says: "We have a strong desire to begin exporting our Irish made products during the course of 2022 and we believe that participating in Showcase 2022 will assist us in increasing our product reach with both local and international buyers."

www.customkeepsakes.ie

DEECA DESIGN

Deeca Design is a collection of jewellery inspired by architecture and nature, handcrafted by Deirdre Caulfield in Carnaross. The collection is made from sustainably and ethically sourced hardwoods, precious metals and freshwater pearls.

Deeca Design reconsiders the status of hardwood and gives it a new lease of life in the realm of jewellery design. The collection features pieces that enclose hardwood in silver and gold, metals that are usually reserved for setting precious gem stones.

The collection is made from walnut, mahogany, 24K and 18K gold finished brass, 925 sterling silver and freshwater pearls.

www.deecadesign.com

Siobhán Daly Designs

Siobhán Daly Designs is an award-winning Irish jewellery and accessories brand, designed and handcrafted in Meath. Each piece is individually handmade in bold colours and textures, influenced by travel, the world of vintage and nature.

Inspired by nature and emphasising the movement towards circular design, the entire collection is made with a sustainable approach and through an environmentally conscious lens. Using offcuts and deadstock ends, designs are made from the excess, hence having an environmental impact on waste minimisation.