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Couture in Kerry
E
VER SINCE her dress was becoming a finalist for the Best Dressed Award at the
crowned Best Dressed 2012 Melbourne Cup.
at the 2010 Galway For Karyn, inspiration stems from many places,
Races Karyn Moriartys the fashion eras of the 40s and 50s being one of
success has gone from those key inspirations. As Karyn herself puts it the
strength to strength. present with notes from the past. Though with that as
The cream, streamlined, fuss-free dress, a starting point its Karyns clients themselves that she
which was partly based on an old vogue takes the most inspiration from. As she says It might
pattern, sparked comment because it start off as a design process but its hard to put on
was the complete antithesis of Celtic paper sometimes. There is movement going on. It just
Tiger gaudiness and it also underlined evolves. With made to measure for a person its their
how fashion contradictions work to your personality as well and they always have to feel good
benefit. Fashion editor for the Irish and comfortable in it.
Independent, Bairbre Power perfectly Karyns start in the fashion world is widely noted
sums up why the dress had so much of as her time spent working with designer James
an impact at the time. The following year Acheson. Having the chance to be part of the Oscar
Karyn was award the Kerry Designer of winning design team for the films The Last Emperor
the Award bringing her designs to the and Dangerous Liaisons. However, the beginning of
forefront of Irish fashion. her love affair with style started back when she was
In the years to follow Karyns designs a child in the 70s. Watching her mother getting ready
would be featured on both the Irish and for local dances, she was in awe of the cacophony
International fashion scenes. At home of colours and with how the dresses moved and
they having been showcased on national sounded. As Karyn grew up she discovered a love and
television programmes such as Expos and talent for art and decided that she would studying
the Today Show. While also being worn something artistic after school. This led her to
by Irish celebrities to prestigious events choosing to attend Limerick College of Art and Design
such as the Irish Film and Television for a year with the intention of majoring in something
Awards and more recently by Muireann specific at the end. Karyn had decided she wanted to
Nic Amhlaoibh while presenting Gradam study fashion. The college however tried to encourage
Ceoil 2016. Internationally, Karyns her to study painting. This led to Karyns fated decision
dresses garnered attention in places to visit a family member in Brighton for the summer
such as Australia with one of her designs and in turn her working with James Acheson.

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Recalling how this came to be Karyn remembers


seeing a programme on television about this designer
who was doing the costumes for The Last Emperor.
He was based in Brighton, so my Aunt suggested I
should drop along and see him. Karyn did exactly
that and started working with the team the very
next morning. After gaining three years of valuable
experience as part of that team Karyn was inspired
to further her skills by moving back to Ireland to
study fashion design at the Grafton Academy.
Upon graduating from the three course at the
Grafton Academy Karyn moved back to Tralee,
successfully setting up her own studio. Though
Karyn started a family not long after that and she
continued working from home. In the more recent
years leading up to her success at the Galway Races
and picking up multiple accolades spent six years
living in Spain. Though her time there wasnt too far
afield from the fashion world, as she was managing a
fashion boutique for the duration of her time there.
Bringing us back to 2016, having worked from
home for the best part of a decade Karyn decided
it was time for her to move to a studio. By chance
while having a discussion about teaching a sewing
class Karyn discovered Craft Makers had the perfect
space available for her studio. Karyn has been set
up there for a quite a few months now and she is
as busy as ever with weddings, debs and ladies day
outfits. Within those few months Karyn also received
the great news that she was chosen as a finalist for
the Kerry Women in Business awards. Looking to
the future Karyn is hoping to team up with local
vintage shop Goose. This will involve creating a small
vintage inspired collection that would be exclusively Above: One of Karyns designs on display at Craft Makers.
available at Goose. Karyn is also feeling inspired by Background: Karyns workspace.
a recent visitor to her studio, a lady that was passing Previous Pages (clockwise): At work in the studio. Portrait view of the studio. Putting the
by and called in to say hello. Karyn recalls her finishing touches on a dress. Client consultation area. Sketches from previous designs.
looking exactly like Coco Chanel. On her brief visit
the lady recalled fashion shows from her past and
the clothes displayed at them, leaving Karyn with the Words and Images by: Lindsey OBrien
term Art to Wear.

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