Beauparc fashionista determined to be ‘as good as Gucci’

A BUDDING fashionista from Beauparc who was nominated for a young designer of the year award says she wants to be "as big as Gucci."

Pippa Ball might only be eleven years old, but she already has her sights on the catwalks of New York and Paris having recently attended her first awards ceremony as a finalist in Project Fashion's annual event to celebrate young creative talent.

Talented Pippa who according to her proud mum Cassandra wanted to choose and customise her own outfits from toddler age, found her passion when she enrolled in a fashion design academy for kids, bought a sewing machine and never looked back!

“She has been always big fan of fashion, design and art," says Cassandra. There used to be war when she was going to Montessori and she wanted to wear things that were very impracticable! She even insisted she had to have a Gucci handbag for her communion!”

Local successful women have been a big inspiration to Pippa who spends any free time she has either sketching, sewing or watching TV shows about fashion. But it was a course in Navan that spurred her on to follow her dreams.

“My friend rang me one day when lockdown was lifting to tell me about a summer camp run by Project Fashion in Claremont Stadium. She did it for a week in the summer and she learned so much, she absolutely adored it.

"The following week she bought her own sewing machine with her birthday money and begged me to let her do the classes every Wednesday.

“So, she has been doing the classes now since September 21. Milliner Sarah O'Rourke from Saraden Designs has inspired her to no end.

“Also, my own mother was so talented at sewing and her great granny Anna would have been a well-known seamstress so it’s obviously in the blood."

Pippa who attends Slane NS got her first taste of the runway when she took part in a competition earlier this year as Cassandra also mum to Halle (12), and Lottie (8) explains: “At the October Young Designer Awards 2022 the theme for the event was Follow Yellow Brick Road from the Wizard of Oz. She designed the dress from scratch with no help, just guidance from her tutors, it took her about eight weeks in all.

“She also got old pair off red converse and changed them up to add in new street style to her dress based on Dorothy!

“Unfortunately, she didn’t win or place, but she just loved all aspects off it.

“I can’t thank Project Fashion enough or the girls up there especially Sarah from Saraden Designs because I never could have taught or helped her with this.”

Don't ask Pippa who her style icon is though, she's far too unique for comparison according to her mum.

“I said to her before the fashion show where do you get your inspiration, she said to me I always wanted be as big as Gucci now I want to be me because Sarah inspires me and has shown me I can.

“She is also really inspired by Sinead Burke from Navan, she loved her book and she met a while back, I think it really showed her you can achieve anything if you work hard and believe! She firmly believes she will be at Paris or New York Fashion week!” Cllr Damien O’Reilly, Caroline Moore and Linda Kinsella present Pieta House with a cheque for €35,000 for Darkness into Light at Fairyhouse this year.

This group of volunteers has now raised €190,556 for suicide prevention and support services since 2016. They want to thank everyone, every group and business that supports this great fundraiser at Fairyhouse.