The inaugural Kilkenny Fashion Week will be held from October 10 to 13. Organised by The Kilkenny City Centre Business Association and part-funded by Kilkenny Borough Council, the initiative represents the biggest collective marketing drive ever undertaken by Kilkenny's fashion retailers to promote the marble city as a premier shopping destination. The schedule includes: the biggest fashion show ever staged in the southeast; a scholarship to find and assist a fashion designer of the future; style workshops, late night shopping, myriad in-store events and Ireland's first fashion tweetup. Pictured at the launch, all wearing Kilkenny fashion, were Yomiko Chen, Karen Fitzpatrick and Sarah Morrissey: Karen wears Hoss cream jacket and silk blouse and Hoss Intropia black trousers from Jo Duggan boutique, bag & shoes from Pauls, hat by Kilkenny milliner Rebekah Patterson. Sarah wears Rinascimento dress from Sugar Sugar boutique, Gold coat in pink from Michael H and shoes from The Shoe Box. Yomiko wears Didier Paraki

Published on Wednesday 29 August 2012 18:37

A SEARCH for a fashion designer of the future, pop-up fashion showings, a fashion afternoon for the over-50s, style workshops, late-night shopping, in-store events and Ireland’s first fashion “tweetup” are on the bill for the inaugural Kilkenny Fashion Week, which was officially launched this week.

Kilkenny Fashion Week will open on October 10 with a gala fashion show in the Lyrath Estate Hotel, with 20 Kilkenny retailers participating.

The following day, the over-50s will be catered for with Fabulous Fashion at Fifty in the Pembroke Hotel. Style sessions, a fashion show in association with Curves, health and well-being advice and mature skincare advice will top the agenda.

Across the road in the Clubhouse Hotel, the finalists in the Kilkenny Fashion Week Student Scholarship will gather to meet the judges in their completed upstyled garments.

The evening of October 11 will see many fashion retailers remaining open until 8pm. Hotels are offering packages for visitors, and local bars and restaurants will provide reasons to stay in town, such as the Kilkenny Fashion Week Cocktail Competition in Biddy Early’s, including a signature Fashion Week cocktail.

The big fashion event for October 12 is SPECtacular Styling with Karen Morrissey at the Left Bank. Cocktails and cupcakes will precede an interactive style workshop featuring hair stylist Kieran O’Gorman, make-up artist Michael Brown and fashion styling by Ms Morrissey. Goods lingerie department will offer ‘foundation’ advice and sponsors Specsavers will present autumn/winter facewear looks.

The following day, the KKFW Fashion Train will bring pop-up fashion shows to various bars, restaurants and shops from noon to 5pm, and that evening will see Ireland’s first fashion “Tweetup” in the Pembroke Hotel where Twitter followers can network and put a face to Twitter names. There will be ‘reveals’ for eight people who won make-over competitions via Twitter as well as food, entertainment and a live Twitter feed.

A fringe programme will include in-store make-up artists and fashion shows; personal appearances and consultations; competitions and demos; discounting and promotions. Details are on www.kilkennyfashionweek.com.