London, Paris, New York, Milan… Belfast doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as a fashion capital of the world but, as the saying goes, ‘tall oaks from tiny acorns grow!’

The local Belfast fashion design scene is a fledgling industry with some strong creative forces. There are two excellent fashion design degree courses on offer in Belfast at the University of Ulster and Belfast Met. A lot of our home-grown graduate designers are getting the chance to cut their teeth in the wardrobe departments of notable film productions being filmed in Belfast - big names include HBO’s Game of Thrones and Dracula Year Zero. Sugahfix Talent Spotter 2013 winner Rachael Blair scooped the award with her graduate collection from University of Ulster Belfast and is currently working in the wardrobe department at Game of Thrones. With incredible talent and creativity she’s one to watch for the future!

The retail locations in Belfast are somewhat hidden gems but it’s worthwhile taking a detour to discover them. Like a compass of style they are located within yards of Belfast City Hall which is the site of the former White Linen Hall - an important linen exchange that dominated Belfast’s Linen Quarter.

Most stores house the designer’s work space as well as a boutique area to browse off the peg creations so you can meet the designer and buy directly from the creative source.

Una Rodden - Belfast Fashion Designer

Una Rodden is the shining light of fashion design in Belfast and runs her atelier from her city centre boutique on Arthur Street, just one street east of Belfast City Hall. The Buncrana-born designer takes personal appointments for her couture service at the boutique where her seamstresses are busy in the background constructing her designs. You can also browse the boutique, which is filled with Parisian fashion finds sourced by Una and her team from quirky independent labels. Una is also a big supporter of local talent, stocking headwear, accessories and jewellery from local designers including Grainne Maher Millinery, Pluck & Devour and Catherine B Jewellery.

Una Rodden dress image: Photography by Kelly McAllister, Hair and make-up by Olivia Muldoon, Styling by Katrina Doran

Grainne Maher - Belfast Fashion Designer

The most high profile local designer is award-winning accessories designer Grainne Maher, who has a coveted concession on the women’s wear floor at House of Fraser in Victoria Square. Ready-to-wear millinery and perspex jewellery from her Pluck & Devour range are available to buy in store.

Grainne Maher image: Grainne Maher Autumn/Winter Collection at Belfast Fashion Week 2013 - Photography by Ruairi Drayne

Goddess & Swift - Fashion Store

Tucked away on Commercial Court - one of the prettiest streets in Belfast - is the newly opened retail unit for local designer Larissa Watson’s label Goddess & Swift. This cobbled street is beautifully kept with window boxes filled with red flowers, old Guinness signs and strings of lights weaving back and forth creating a canopy of light. Beside the Duke of York pub is Goddess & Swift’s window display showcasing couture dresses, printed silk scarves and cushions. The space houses Larissa’s studio so you can see the designer at work as you shop.

Goddess and Swift image: Goddess and Swift by Larissa Watson at Belfast Fashion Week AW13 - Photography by Ruairi Drayne

Lizzie Agnew - Bridal Designer

If you’re a bride-to-be then make an appointment at Lizzie Agnew’s studio upstairs at the Fountain Centre – one street north of Belfast City Hall. Lizzie’s bridal designs are inspired by a vintage era of classic style. Her bridal showroom is adjacent to her spacious studio.

Studio Souk - Designer Market

Studio Souk at Spires Mall – one street west of Belfast City Hall - houses a combination of the Unify Fashion Collective combined with the permanent home for The Fashion Souk. The Fashion Souk is a monthly market where local designers and crafters sell their wares and local fashionistas take a rail to clear out their wardrobes. You could find everything from an ex Miss Northern Ireland selling her worn-once sequin gowns to vintage upcycled jewellery – it’s an Aladdin’s Cave for fashion fans. Now with a permanent home, the space mixes it up with a bunch of up-and-coming fashion designers and makers including Shauna Fay, David Henderson, Kiera Ann Marie Phillips and jewellery designer Linzi Rooney’s Elephant Juice label, which makes stunning jewellery from antique cutlery.

Header image credit: Photography by Kelly McAllister, Hair and make-up by Olivia Muldoon, Styling by Katrina Doran, Model - Rebecca Maguire from Style Academy

Related Articles

Fashion and Food on Belfast’s Lisburn Road

Shopping in Belfast - Best Kept Secrets for Beauty

Belfast Shopping Centre - Best Places to Shop

____

Check out our Belfast fashion deals