Q. What is your perspective on how Dublin Independent Fashion Week is evolving and where it’s headed next?

Jason Andres (pronouns: they/them)- DIFW Social Media Director and PR Manager:

“DIFW is all about building a vibrant, community-based fashion culture, driven by our collective passion. This year, our events are laser-focused on genuine inclusion and a true celebration of the incredible Irish creative spirit.”

Sarah O’Neill - The Zero Waster, DIFW Talent and PR Manager:

“Change won’t happen in the individual, it happens in the collective” “That’s why DIFW was created, to build a powerful platform for sustainably driven, independent designers to not only showcase their incredible work but to shift the narrative around fashion in Ireland. For too long, Irish designers have had to take their talent abroad just to be seen. We’re changing that - and lowering the carbon footprint while we do it. Through this fashion week, we’re not only celebrating their talent - we're proving that Ireland is home to a growing movement of designers who are redefining fashion with sustainability at its core.”

Megan McGuigan- Seeking Judy and Solstice by Seeking Judy, DIFW Sponsorship and Production Manager:

“We’re not looking at other fashion weeks and trying to replicate them. We understand the fashion system is broken. It’s up to us as designers to provide a solution to fixing this broken system. We know what works abroad won’t work here. Ireland has a very tight knit, DIY art scene and it's hard to survive as a creative here, and so, when Irish people see other Irish people doing the damn thing, we really come together and support each other.

Q: What will be different at DIFW this year with a larger team?

Megan McGuigan- Seeking Judy and Solstice by Seeking Judy, DIFW Sponsorship and Production Manager:

“This year we know what works and what doesn’t. It finally feels like we’re standing on solid footing. We are going to do a city wide takeover. There will be talks, presentations, fashion shows, workshops, parties and everyone is invited. There’s no event too big or too small. This year I’m working towards 2 events. One for my Streetwear clothing brand Seeking Judy and another for my latest experimental project, Solstice By Seeking Judy. See you there!”

Isabella Tierney- DIFW Operations and Communications Manager.

“I was lucky enough to meet some of these absolute legends at Dublin Independent Fashion Week 24, and since then, I’ve made some of the best friendships. Having a strong tribe is so important to me, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of the DIFW25 committee. This year’s team is a dream, we’ve got a great mix of creativity and some serious drive. With a larger team, we’ve got more hands on deck, more ideas flowing, and more capacity to take things to the next level. What’s most inspiring is that everyone, committee or not, is so passionate about making magic happen again this year, the energy is insane. With this team, we’re able to deliver an even more unforgettable experience. DIFW25 is going to be something special.”

Q: Applications are more open for events for this year's schedule, what are your thoughts?

Mihai Mar- MAR KNITWEAR, DIFW Co-Founder / Project Manager:

“Now in our third year, we’re reimagining our format to give participants more creative freedom than ever before. One thing we’ve learned from past editions is, as creatives we all have unique and inspiring goals for the development of our brand. That’s why for DIFW 2025, we’re inviting designers to pitch an event to be featured on our official schedule that reflects their own creative ambitions. With this approach, we aim to stay true to our mission by creating an exciting and diverse fashion week designed by designers, for designers.”

Aisling Duffy- @aislingduffystudio, DIFW Operations and Communications Manager:

“For the third year of DIFW we want to open the floor to designers and fashion enthusiasts at all stages of their career. DIFW has always been about platforming fashion here in Ireland. It’s about creating genuine connections with people in the fashion industry, making friends and celebrating the talent we have here. I love that DIFW is built on DIY punk ethics - instead of waiting for someone to create opportunities we decided to create them for ourselves”

Jason Andres (pronouns: they/them) - DIFW Social Media Director and PR Manager:

“DIFW’s aim will always be to uplift Irish creatives across the nation by providing a network of vital support and opening up the doors for all who wish to participate. DIFW isn’t just about the runway - it’s about the conversation, the ecosystem and the future of independent design in Ireland. These events will be proudly talent-led, volunteer-powered and deeply rooted in the belief that fashion should be as diverse and dynamic as the people who create it.”

Q. How do you strike a balance between being a designer showing their work at DIFW as well as a committee member tasked with putting this amazing fashion week together?

Ríon Hannora- Designer and Stylist, DIFW Events and Productions Manager:

‘The most important thing about Dublin Independent Fashion Week for me is the community it has built, within the fashion scene in Dublin, and all over Ireland. Working for yourself can be a really isolating job to have sometimes. Knowing there is a group of like minded people within the same city as you, going through all the things that you are going through with their own small businesses, is so refreshing and comforting. We genuinely are so supportive of each other on both a personal and professional level. The fashion week itself speaks of this I think. Of course there is the spectacle of the shows and the events, but it is also a way for people to come together and see all the work each individual designer has put their whole heart into. As a fashion designer in Ireland, it can sometimes feel like you're screaming into a black hole where no one can hear you. Or you labour over a collection for months, only to post a few pictures of it on Instagram that the algorithm might not even show half of your followers. Our fashion week is us making space for ourselves and for each other to show our work on the big pedestal it belongs on.’

Mihai Mar- MAR KNITWEAR, DIFW Co-Founder / Project Manager:

“Being a fashion designer often feels like a solitary pursuit with long hours in the studio and countless late nights spent perfecting our vision. For me, Dublin Independent Fashion Week began as a chance to break that isolation, connect with other designers and present my work to the public. What started as a small platform has since evolved into a leading cultural movement at the heart of Ireland’s fashion scene.”

Make sure to check out their incredible line-up of events for DIFW 25, from 22nd-28th of September!

Writer- Sophia O’Connor

Copy editor- Esther Akinborewa