Solo Features

A design for life

A recent graduate from Portobello Institute’s Fashion Buying and Merchandising course, and also the winner of the Harvey Nichols Design Competition, Carla Donnelly is only 18 and on the way up. Priscilla Dinan meets her.

George Bernard Shaw once referred to fashion as an induced epidemic Just as disease spreads fast, so too does office gossip, and the subject of the most recent tittle tattle at my place of work was a little black dress. It had been pimped beyond recognition (at the request of a colleague) by Ireland’s answer to Patricia Field, 18-year-old Carla Donnelly. And the renovation was so visionary I hastily got her number and arranged to meet her.
The granddaughter of a tailor and dressmaker, Donnelly could be described as a Tinkerbell of fashion, both in appearance and talent. The day we meet, her white-blonde hair is swept back with glasses that are typical of the Allens (Woody and Lily that is). When asked when she first started to appreciate fashion, she immediately thinks back to the rite of initiation more commonly referred to as the Confirmation.  “That started it all,” she said. “I had to get something really expensive. When Mam would buy me something, I’d be, like, oh no, and want to change it completely. I used to love getting a piece of fabric and just wrapping it around me.”
Naturally, Donnelly went on to study art as a Leaving Certificate subject, which she did at Presentation College, Terenure. “I did art but should have done more. In Sixth Year we were aware that whoever wanted to do fashion were meant to have started drawing (their portfolios) earlier, as in throughout the two years – Fifth and Sixth Year – but I just wasn’t bothered. I knew I was going to do fashion and I just I didn’t bother.” (For the record, Donnelly was awarded a B in this subject at honours level.)
Meanwhile, secondary school also allowed her to channel her creativity into business. “My friends copped that I was good at something and started asking me to make them stuff. Me and my friend always wanted to look different, and we bought material and started a little mini company.”
May of this year saw Donnelly graduate from Portobello Institute’s Fashion Buying and Merchandising course, while also winning the Harvey Nichols Design Competition that was held in conjunction with the Institute. Each student was asked to design and make an ’80s or ’50s inspired creation from a jacket or a pair of jeans and this winner says she didn’t need to think about it – she  immediately concentrated on the 1950s. “Runway clothes are great, but ’50s couture is what I’m interested in.”. The youngest in her class, she had roughly eight weeks to submit her entry and set about transforming a communion dress, the lining of a blazer jacket (both second hand) and masses of pearls into an original wedding dress. The result is worthy of place in any bridal boutique,
Citing Italian and French Vogue as her fashion bibles, Donnelly remembers pulling various pages and looks from magazines, compiling them and rearranging them (according to their corresponding season) into a folder from the age of 15. “At college, Vogue online was my bible,” she added, although her mother is more of a Hello or OK! magazine subscriber so she’ll often have a leaf through those as well.
John Galliano is one of her favourite designers and I asked her if he reminded her of a pirate. “Yes but I love that,” she said. “His stuff is just unbelievable.” My feeling is that such admiration stems from Galliano’s leaning towards theatre. She also mentions Karl Lagerfield, who was a costume designer in his early career and once designed for theatres such as La Scala in Milan.
A brief flick through Donnelly’s portfolio reveals one outfit made entirely of refuse sacks, which can only be described as inspirational. More pieces include such delicate draping and unusual rouching that a potential buyer will have to remind themselves that these works are typical of an established designer and not a student who is, technically, still in her teens.
So what’s next? “Well I have my interview with the Grafton Academy of Dress Design soon” she replied somewhat nervously. “And after that, I really want to open my own shop/business.” The Academy would be insane not to accept her.

For further information on design commissions, styling and wardrobe revamping contact Carla Donnelly directly on 085 2701485.

© 2012 solo-magazine.com