Have you heard of the Velvet Collective? If not, put a date in your diary for Sunday, November 25

Last month the Velvet Collective, a fashion and design “salon”, launched at the Cliff Townhouse in Dublin. This collective of Irish designers, crafters and artists will show pieces from each creative’s current collection, and will play host to panel discussions, workshops and podcasts.

The brainchild of PR guru Deirdre Hynds and womenswear designer Alison Conneely, the aim of the initiative is firstly to create a supportive space for creatives in which they can showcase their work, strengthen their relationships with customers and collaborate with their peers, but also to invite the public to get involved with and participate in the entire experience. Designers taking part in the Collective include Edel Traynor, Nigel O’Reilly, Susan Zelouf and Isle Jewellery.

An 18 karat rose gold ring by Nigel O’Reilly

I visited the Collective last month (the salon opens on the last Sunday of the month) and it was such a pleasure to experience first-hand the sheer quality of Irish design there. These pieces could stand up alongside any international labels. Indeed, Conneely’s recent success is testament to this. For the first time this season, her collection is being stocked by Bloomingdales in New York. She’s also stocked in the exclusive Donnybrook boutique Havana, alongside heavy-hitters such as Simone Rocha and Haider Ackermann.

An exquisite two piece by Alison Conneely.

This month, there is a stellar line-up of women who will take part in a panel discussion titled “What inspires the maker, what inspires the market”. It will be facilitated by Rachel Thomas, curator and head of exhibitions at IMMA and will feature contributions from makers/designers/artists Jesse Jones, Grace Weir and Susan Zelouf. The discussion kicks off at 12.30pm (the collective itself runs from 11am to 4pm) and promises to be a fascinating afternoon for anyone interested in fashion and design. I, for one, can’t wait.

Holding shot Edel Trayor