New Collections Luncheon & Show in the Aghadoe Heights Hotel
TOP fashion designers Helen Cody and Umit Kutluk were special guests on Sunday 29th September at the New Collections Luncheon & Show in Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa beside the beautiful Lakes of Killarney, County Kerry. Irish designer Helen Cody specialises in beautifully designed, bespoke pieces in fine Italian and French silks as well as organza, cashmere and lace and has dressed top Irish and international celebrities while Umit Kutluk is known for tailored classic designs blended with contemporary elegance and counts heads of State and Irish TV personalities among his clients.
Known as the Kingdom of Kerry, its spectacular scenery has been at the heart of inspiring the emerging and established designers and leading boutiques that are influencing global fashion.
While at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel around 80 in attendance were treated to new collections for autumn and winter, unveiled over a sumptuous four-course lunch and a
selection of fine wines. The show featured designs produced in specialist fabrics including renewable and recycled materials.
“We need to become more sustainable in our every day lines and in how we treat fashion and its uses,”
said the show’s producer Orla Diffily of Upfront Model Management.
“What we were showing was the new collections from some of Kerry’s best designers and boutiques. The fashion now is very much towards wear-ability and one key piece is all you need to start with co-ordinating pieces.”
Kerry designers featured at the new autumn and winter collection reveal and luncheon
included Carol Kennelly Millinery, Tina Griffin Designs, MacBees Killarney,
Hannons of Castleisland, Weardrobe, Divas and Dudes, La Femme, Jasmine, de
Burca Designs, House of Kerry, Coco at the Arcade, Aoife Hannon, Rita Zachar and
Cathy Troth Millinery along with Helen Cody and Umit Kutluk.
The event marked the launch of a new award for sustainable designs sponsored by Kelliher’s Toyota Tralee in association with Radio Kerry which was presented to designer Cathy Troth.
“Sustainability was something I grew up with,”
said Cathy Troth when she was presented with the inaugural award by Theresa Kelliher of Kelliher’s Toyota for designs entirely made from recycled materials, including her own dress.
“We live in such a wonderful world. If there is any way that every single one of us can do one little thing then it has made it worth it.”
Hair and makeup for the fashion show was by the multi-award winning team of the
Sean Taaffe Group.
The Best Dressed Lady, Joanne Hynes received a €500 voucher from Adams Jewellers Killarney and Tralee, and the show’s MC was Radio Kerry’s Elaine Kinsella.
“We were delighted to be sponsored by Kelliher’s Toyota Tralee where they have a fantastic range of new self-generated hybrid Toyotas,”
said Elaine Kinsella.
“Sustainability is something we are all very concerned about in fashion and in playing our part for the environment.”
