These Christmas decorations designed by Irish artists support women in Direct Provision

Designers including Fuschia MacAree, Ashwin Chacko and Holly Pereira have all contributed to this festive project with designs inspired by the 12 days of Christmas.

Here at IMAGE, we’re big fans of Dublin social enterprise We Make Good, whose products support those who are socially disadvantaged, providing them with skills and employment. So we were excited to hear they are launching a collection of Christmas decorations.

We Make Good asked Irish designers for their interpretation of a modern 12 days of Christmas, resulting in designs including Two Giddy Grandkids, Three Neighbours Knocking, Four Pints At Your Place and Five Homemade Jumpers.

With designs from creatives including Ashwin Chacko, Kathi Burke, Conor Nolan, Fuchsia MacAree and Tara O’Brien, the decorations will be available from December 2 either individually or in sets from We Make Good’s website, or Fade Street store in Dublin.

All the proceeds from the decorations are being used to train and upskill women from refugee backgrounds in We Make Good’s Textile Studio, where they make a range of products. Launched in 2019, the studio trains and employs women who have come through, or are still in, Direct Provision in machine knitting, sewing, garment construction and textile printing.

The decoration themselves are being crafted by participants of Cairde Enterprises, an education and training centre in Limerick which works with men and women who have experience of the criminal justice system.

Joan Ellison, Co-Founder of We Make Good, said, “In tough times, pulling together is such a positive action – collaboration is core to our business and to our success. This project has been a really lovely joining of forces, from the talented designers who have given us their time and work, to the makers down in Cairde Enterprises in Limerick City, who work tirelessly to get our products off the screen and into our hands and finally, the women in our studio, who will benefit in very real terms from the sale of these decorations”.

The decorations, as well as being made in Ireland, are also plastic-free, making them a sustainable choice.

All images: We Make Good

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