Photography by Leon Farrell, Photocall Ireland.
Meet D. Conor Petrin, the NCAD graduate and DCCI Future Makers award winner
Having showcased his graduate collection on the catwalks of Milan, Wicklow fashion designer D. Conor Petrin creates bold silhouettes inspired by the structure and symbolism of a dressage test.
My name is D.Connor Petrin, I’m an Irish fashion designer and a recent graduate from NCAD. After graduation, I was selected as a finalist for both DCCI Future Makers and International Labs of Mittelmoda and showcased my graduate collection at the RDS in Dublin to the catwalk in Milan.
My design ethos explores narrative in fashion design by creating a muse and a concept to tell a story. Starting with in-depth research and illustrating my muse in gestural ways, I create bold silhouettes for my muse, transforming 2D into 3D, making one off occasion pieces for custom orders.
My collection includes lots and lots of puffball dresses and skirt dresses in rosettes and ribbons with trench coats that become horse blankets. Right now, I’m looking into dogwear, styling and making jumpers and coats with owners and dogs.
The logistics
Funding was definitely a concern for me. Because I launched up after graduation, I was recovering from the financial expenses from final year fashion design. Winning an award at DCCI Future Makers has helped me to invest in equipment like an industrial machine to continue making garments at a professional level.
The best business advice I’ve gotten has been: “don’t be scared to put on a show.” Learning and hearing from international designers and their daily lives inspires me to keep designing.
The names to know
There is one fashion photographer that I am obsessed with and that is Paolo Roversi after visiting an exhibition of his work in Paris. His photography captures both drama and mood in terms of fashion narrative.
Some Irish based brands I love are the The Landskein for their sophisticated take on coats and trench coats, Una Burke and her wearable leather artworks and lastly the Mundoo Moo for comfortable ready to wear pieces.
The legacy
My proudest moment so far was showcasing in Milan with my graduate collection.
I want my brand to be remembered for puffballs and rosettes.
If I could have anyone wear my designs it would be for the stage, so a singer like Bjork would be a dream.
Photography by Leon Farrell, Photocall Ireland. Styling by Roxanne Parker.
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