Roisin Gartland - 2013 collection

Roisin Gartland is based in The Design Tower. She is here to tell us about her latest accessories collection which she recently showcased in new York.

"For the last 10 years I've mostly been engaged in creating one-off pieces, which I have to admit is a labour of love! No two pieces are alike and each piece a challenge. During this time I have also become quite interested in accessories… I guess because they are the perfect partner to accompany designing in a bespoke fashion where each piece can take up to 3 months to build. The result is a collection of extremely versatile accessories to add to every woman's wardrobe and they have just made their début in New York.

This new collection consists of collars, gloves and bags: each adding a touch of luxury and individuality to simple classic outfits and at an affordable price. Each collar is moulded to fit the neckline in a natural form and in keeping with my bespoke designs, no two pieces are alike. The collars are naturally thermal and breathable and so perfect for our climate! The fingerless gloves are described by clients as being simply divine and practical too! They are quite eye catching: The hand can feel dressed and very elegant and the beauty is you don't need to remove them when working and they are available in a rainbow of beautiful colours.

Not being able to find the right bags for my own needs resulted in the development of the bag collection. Each shape and size has been road tested and refined over the last decade and the set has developed into a great collection perfected for different uses.

These are timeless items made from the most beautiful natural materials and created to last for many years. The collection is ready to travel and the long term goal is to develop an overseas market for the accessories collection and set some new challenges for myself. However, having said all that, creating one-off designs for my Irish clients is at the core of what I do and that will never change."

For more information on Roisin Gartland's collections, visit her website and Facebook page.

Credits:

Photographer: Sean Jackson

Stylist: Alison Conneely

Model: Maria Boardman from 1st Option Models Management

Leather workshop with Roisin Gartland

RÓISÍN GARTLAND’s studio has been creating leatherwork of distinction since it was set-up in 1987. The RÓISÍN GARTLAND brand has developed over a span of 24 years to become synonymous with innovation, design, quality and craftsmanship. The studio is now developing a new strand: teaching small groups of people to make special personalised items from leather

The initial workshops in The Design Tower are a testing ground and as such are very flexible and will develop and change over the coming months. we will work with the finest luxurious leathers that have proven the test of time and as the practice encompasses several areas of expertise, there is a wide selection of skins from which to choose.

Participants are encouraged to bring along their own designs, however, templates of bags and other items will be provided and participants may embellish and adjust these templates to add their own unique touch.

The costs for each workshop is €400. this includes all materials, trimmings, fixtures and fittings. the cost is based on size and while larger items will incur an extra charge, smaller pieces may be duplicated.

The workshops are designed for and limited to groups of 4

This is a unique opportunity to make special pieces that can be used for christmas gifts… or remain prized possessions forever!

Schedule for the first set of workshops is as follows:

· 4x3 hours sessions €400 Tuesday evenings, over 4-week period

Running through October and November

· 2 full days €400 consecutive Saturdays. Each day consisting 2x3hour sessions with 1-hour lunch

Running through October and November

Templates of bags and other items will be provided and participants may embellish and adjust these templates to add their own unique touch.

Contact Róisín for booking details and booking form 01 6710020 or 0872490984 or email workshops@roisingartland.com

Studio Visit - Róisín Gartland

The 'Studio Visits' are a monthly blog instalment. We're opening our doors to introduce you to the artists and designers in The Design Tower! Each interview will give you an insight into the individual designer or business.

This month we're chatting to Róisín Gartland.

Can you tell us about your creative path up as far as your latest field of study?

My design practice opened in 1987 and has been located in The Design Tower since 1988. I am a leather specialist and my business concentrated on developing a low volume high quality range of products.

I created bespoke pieces for private clients from the outset, (which I continue to do) and when demand for my work grew, I developed a commercial range of clothing that sold throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe. I am commissioned regularly to make pieces for film & TV and also for special events and concerts.

While being an independent woman operating a small business in the late eighties to early nineties was challenging in itself, it did not feed my soul. I needed to find a way to express myself creatively outside the commercial world. In 1991 I began to explore fine art as a means to fulfill that purpose and discovered a perfect visual language ideally suited to my needs. Over the next decade I balanced studies in fine art with my design business and was rewarded with a BA in fine art in 2000.

The most difficult time came in the years following the BA. Attempts to stitch my two practices together were surprisingly unsuccessful. My business had become a demanding master allowing little space to grow. So in 2004 I took a leap of faith and closed the commercial side of the business. In breaking up the old framework new possibilities emerged and as a result the last seven years have been some of the most creative and rewarding of my career to date. I returned to study 2 years ago to concentrate on an MFA in sculpture at NCAD.

What inspires your design - are there people or things that particularly inspire you?

 Unité d'Habitation by Corbusier

I am continually drawn to pattern formations, be they in nature or in geometry.  In this regard I am inspired in equal measure by nature, the human body and by architecture. Paris is one of my favourite cities for creative stimulus and Italy for its abundance of beautiful materials. I also have moments in sleep where inspiration is awakened.

Tell us about the range of materials that you like to work with

The range of leathers available is enormous but over the years I have whittled the list down to Spanish lambskins, Japanese hides, Ethiopian lamb suede, and a small selection of special finished leathers. On the other side of my practice I really like working with clay and paper, both separately and together.

It would be great to hear about your master’s course - what your goals and aspirations were and whether you feel they were met.

Pattern formation on vellum

For the last 2 years I have been immersed in a research based MFA at NCAD. This space allowed me the freedom to explore new avenues and engage with new audiences. My goal was to develop the building blocks for my reconfigured practice and out of that I developed a method that enabled my research to weave in and out between internal and external enquiries so while I spent much time pondering issues in the studio an equal amount of time was spent developing work that required an audience to activate it. It was a very challenging and rewarding time that was equally balanced by holding on and letting go. I’m happy to say was it was successfully completed.

In relation to your studio, if you had a crystal ball what vision of the future would you like to see?

I would like to see my studio continually evolve allowing the unexpected to happen. I would like to continue to share my expertise and experience with the generations to come and I would like to move outside the studio on occasion to research abroad. Having just completed my first ‘Tower Summer School’ workshop I would also like to see these develop as regular events in the ‘Tower’ calendar.

Can you tell us about the piece you created for The Design Tower Bender Exhibition?

The concept was to create an image of beauty in a modern style while making reference to Benders collections of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints and antiquarian books.

The image brings together all these elements: the outfit is made entirely from Japanese materials and the collar and cuff highlight the prominent fan motif in Japanese prints. Finally the location is the Long Room Library with centuries of knowledge as the backdrop.

Thanks for telling us more about your business Róisín! For more information, visit the Róisín Gartland website.

Check out the other designer interviews in the series too!