Irish Fashionistas gathered at Topshop's flagship store on Stephen's Green, Dublin, on February 21st, for an exclusive unveiling of the Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award 2007 finalists.
The finalists' design mood boards and the inspiration for their designs - the new Nokia L'Amour Collection II handsets - were revealed to an intimate crowd of specially invited guests where.
Like the handsets, the designs were created to reflect luxury, romance and the magic and mystery of foreign cultures and forbidden pleasures. Their aim was an overall look and feel of glamour and decadence.
The finalists include:
Sinead Lawlor Co. Dublin
Aimée O'Beirne Co. Kildare
Carol Hopkins Co. Kildare
Jane Horgan Co. Louth
Alanna Murphy Co. Louth
Sarah Greer Co. Waterford
Fionnuala Donnelly Co. Meath
Deirdre Brennan Co. Westmeath
Aislinn Sweeney Co. Kerry
Paget Scott-McCarthy Co. Cork
Jennifer Browne Co. Dublin
Aoife Perry Co. Kildare
Two of the five judges were also in attendance. Accessories Designer Pauric Sweeney and Caren Downie, Director of Buying for Topshop, both flew in especially to congratulate the finalists. Topshop's Irish-born Marketing Director Jo Farrelly also joined the ensemble.
The funky tunes of DJ Mo Kelly set the stylish mood for guests that included Music Manager, Daragh Kilkenny, Tassle Club Producer Sara Colohan, Stylists Anne Keane, Aisling Farinella and Lisa O' Riordan, Image Magazine' Fashion Editor Sive O' Brien, singer Mundy, Katherine Hewitt from Edward Dillon, and Astrid Brenna.
The finalists will now be tasked to bring their designs to life for a glittering finale on the catwalk at Dublin's Olympia Theatre on Tuesday 27th March, where the overall winner will be crowned.