The dress with more flair

In May 2014, Spin 1038 launched a competition to find Ireland’s next upcoming designer to design a dress for Aideen Bodkin’s Spring / Summer 2015 collection. NCAD fashion design student Laura Egan entered the competition on a complete whim. Fast forward to February 2015, and Laura’s dress is being sold in boutiques across Dublin and beyond.

“Honestly, I entered because I was bored. I’d only just started doing fashion design and thought ‘why not’?” Egan says, beaming with pride when the topic of her dress arose. “I tried to stay true to the female shape, using things that were flattering like a small peplum, and did my best to stay true to the rest of her collection,” she continues.

A stunning garment with a variety of pinks, blues, peaches and creams infused into the fabric, Laura says that designing the dress is something that spurred her on to work in fashion, and that strengthened her love for her passion.

“I got to see the whole process of how the dress was made, from how the fabric was tulled, the pattern being printed, all the way up to the sewing of the dress,” Laura tells of the experience.

“Along with getting the dress made and included in the collection, I got the chance to do an internship with Aideen as well,” the NCAD student explains.

The second year student spoke fondly of the designer, saying that she had learned a lot in her time with Aideen, who set up her eponymous ladies wear label in 1999.

“Her style is not my style; I don’t usually design dresses, and I try to go a little edgier, a little younger, but to see how passionate she was about her work was something that rubbed off on me,” the 21 year old beams.

Studying in an art college has helped inspire Laura, with the design student detailing how NCAD as a campus is beautiful in itself, as well as what’s being created within its walls.

“The NCAD campus is gorgeous; it has an old-style feel to it, but with some modern aspects as well. It really suits the fact that there’s such a creative atmosphere in the college,” Laura enthuses.

Photo: Laura Eagers

Looking ahead at her career in design, Laura says she doesn’t know for certain where she wants to go.

“I don’t know about starting my own line yet. The next step for me is to get an internship with a different designer, to try and vary my experience. It’d be cool to go out on my own somewhere down the line, but for right now it’s a lot of work,” she explains.

The dress, named ‘Laura’ after it’s designer, hit boutiques across the country on February 13th, and retails at €179.