Three years ago I met Irish designer Fintan Mulholland at Brown Thomas’s Create, where he was showcasing his exquisite collection of knitwear. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with his pieces and my goal now is to own one because I think they are worth every penny (cardigans and jumpers start at about €450 rising to the €1,000 mark).

I’m a lover of knitwear anyway (I’ve started knitting my own cardigans!), but Mulholland creates pieces that redefine the genre. Having been lucky enough to see them in the flesh (at Create and on IMAGE Magazine fashion shoots; as far as I know he’s not stocked in any major stores or boutiques in Ireland), I understand the price point of his garments. Each item is a masterpiece: architectural, beautifully textured, completely original, but made for wearing rather than just admiring on a hanger.

His collection is the perfect example of form and function marrying beautifully. The textile art and fashion knitwear design graduate uses only natural yarns such as lambswool, alpaca, yak, linen and cashmere, and each piece is hand-finished. He’s cleverly combined traditional materials with modern techniques to create something that feels completely fresh within this fashion space. I want everything!

If you’re not familiar with his work, scroll down to see some of the exquisite pieces from his current collection. This is what women mean when they talk about “investment buying”: clothes that are beautifully unique and which will last you a lifetime. The bonus is that you’re also supporting a wonderful young Irish designer too.