Renowned Irish fashion designer Joanne Hynes unveiled her second collection for Irish retailer Dunnes Stores this morning. The highly anticipated collection is limited to just three stores (Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street and Cornelscourt) and online at dunnesstores.com It was a virtuoso kaleidoscope of colour, with bright limes and citrus pops mixed with tropical prints and textured beads and furs. One of my favourite pieces was a reversible pink fur coat with a shearling/suede effect on the reverse side, but I also loved the bell sleeved dresses in bold red and navy stripes.
To launch the collection, Joanne hosted a breakfast followed by a catwalk presentation in the Stephen’s Green store for press and customers. The event took place within the fresh fruit and veg aisles, which were customised with giant inflatables and flowers to tie in with the jungle theme of the collection. We arrived to the sounds of the jungle and enjoyed a tropical breakfast before the show started.
Joanne commented regarding the collaboration ‘This collection is an homage to the adventures of Henry Rousseau who dreamed of a tropical jungle. I was inspired by journeys that I never had into the world of Rousseau; using fashion as a fantasy.’
Dunnes Stores has become a powerful platform for established and upcoming Irish designers. Joanne is in the company of Paul Costelloe, Carolyn Donnelly, Leigh Tucker, Helen James, Brendan Courtney, Sonya Lennon, Paul Galvin and Francis Brennan - all of whom design exclusive collections for the retailer.
I managed to pick myself up a fab beaded collar at the launch and wore it to host FASHIONWEEK just after.
