Project 51

Diamond ring by Precious

Eoin McDonnell is launching a new Irish Designer Collective store which will be called Project 51. Eoin's business Precious is located in The Design Tower.  There are fifteen Irish designers involved in the new concept which is devoted to providing its customers the very best from high end luxury Irish goods. The new shop will open in September at 51 South William St Dublin 2. As Eoin says -

"By purchasing in an Irish owned boutique you are contributing significantly to the Irish economy!  For every hundred Euro spent in a multinational store only fourteen goes back into the local economy versus forty five through an Irish owned shop (figures courtesy DCBA.ie)"

Jennifer Rothwell Autumn/Winter 2011

According to Jennifer Rothwell one of Ireland’s top designers involved in the store, “South William Street was always filled with the business end of the Rag Trade and now it is being reclaimed. It’s time for the rebirth of South William St once again as the Fashion Center of Dublin!”

Housed in a 19th Century Georgian building Project 51 -  Irish Design Collective – is a High End NYC Soho style luxury boutique filled with the Best of Irish fashion, jewellery, millinery, accessories and furniture. Project 51 offers the ultimate shopping experience in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. Customers can choose from an amazing selection of luxury goods, from engagement rings to bridal wear, jewellery, evening wear, tailoring, millinery and luxury leather bags.

Colette Van Vaarsveld - Table and magazine rack

Project 51 is bringing an international concept to Ireland: establishing a creative-fashion-design hub to showcase Irish design and provide the designers with the opportunity to offer unique designs to the public.

Martha Lynn hat

The designers involved also intend to make an international impact, to increase the profile of Irish design internationally with an emphasis on high quality and innovative design. Their aim is to achieve the same level of international recognition as the “Antwerp Six”, a group of influential avant garde fashion designers who graduated from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts between 1980-1981. The fashion collective presented a distinct, radical vision for fashion during the 1980s that established Antwerp as a notable location for fashion design.  Walter Van Beirendonck,  Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs and Marina Yee travelled to London and Paris together in the Eighties. Together the Antwerp six have conquered the fashion world with their very distinct vision of fashion.

Designers involved in Project 51 are -
Ana Faye – www.anafaye.com (Leather Bags)
Caiomhe Keane – www.Que-Va.com (Fashion)
Colette Van Jaarsveld – www.Arcology.ie (Interior Architect – sustainable furniture & accessories)
Claire O’Connor – lilccouture.ie (Fashion)
Eily O Connell – eilyoconnell.com (Jewellery)
Emma Taylor – www.RubyJewels.ie (Jewellery)
Eoin McDonnell – www.Precious.ie (Jewellery)
Geraldine Murphy – www.Saba.ie (Jewellery)
Heather Finn – heatherfinn.com (Fashion)
Jennifer Rothwell – jrothwell.net (Fashion)
Martha Lynn – marthalynnmillinery.com (Millinery)
Sinead Doyle – sineaddoyle.com (Fashion)
Sinead Clarke – www.EssenC.ie (Fashion)
Vikki Shorten – www.VSLJewelry.com (Jewellery)
Yvonne Ryan – www.EveElla.com (Jewellery)

Article source - from Designer Dublin