Colin Horgan SS14

Concrete Collar were lucky enough to attend Colin Horgan's Spring Summer '14 show last week as part of the Dublin Fashion Festival. The final year fashion student at the Limerick School of Art and Design continued to impress us with his innovative collection. While his signature style is evidently evolving, androgynous themes resumed and a heightened sense of femininity emerged through his use of sheer, delicate fabrics. 

The collection navigated its way over a predominantly monochrome palette, culminating in the strong clean lines of sheer and opaque silk organza in his dresses. Flashes of bold orange (rubber) and cobalt blue brought vibrancy to the collection, perfect for the warmer months. The striking geometric motifs, vivid use of colour and loin cloth inspired skirts evoked tribal influences. The flesh exposing pieces and the use of transparent fabric gave air and light to his SS14 collection. 

We were particularly drawn to the several structured jumpers which incorporated geometric cut-outs, exaggerated padding and distinctive panelling. Paired with double slit leather skirts and pleated minis these are top of our wish list. Add in a harness backpack in patent leather for good measure.

Contrasting structure and transparency, the collection suggests a confidence and vigour which we really admire. Props for the understated soundtrack choice too. We can't wait to see how this designer's career progresses. 

You can check out Colin's website here and pre-order SS14 at Project 51 at 51 South William Street, Dublin 2.

As ever all photography is our own.

Oh and if you haven't already, please vote for our post 'Bull Island' to win best blog post at this year's Irish Blog Awards. Just follow this link:

http://www.blogawardsireland.com/category/best-blog-post-2 

Click 'Concrete Collar-Bull Island' and 'Submit'. Simple! 

Thanks for your continued support!

B+C

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House of O'Casey

As soon as we were introduced to young Irish designer Colin Horgan's first collection, we knew exactly where we were going to bring it. 

The Sean O'Casey community centre by O'Donnell Tuomey is situated in East Wall and provides a central communal hub for the surrounding area. Facilities such as a creche, day care centre, sports hall, and theatre called for a large ground floor area. The residents were keen to introduce a tall building to their streets and so the iconic (may we say emmental-like) tower was conceived. 

Almost square in plan, the ground level is divided into quadrants and houses a creche, a senior citizen day care centre, a small gym, multipurpose sports hall, large reception space and a 156 seat theatre. Four planted courtyards puncture this area providing visual connections between the various social activities in the centre. A five storey tower folds up out the plan and houses meeting rooms and offices. The 'Sean O'Casey Boardroom' on the top level has views over the city to rival that of any penthouse suite in Dublin. When can we move in?!

The architects' choice of a materials offers visitors a true visual feast. The tower with its corrugated concrete surface gives the illusional of stacked shipping containers. Along with the porthole like windows which dot its facade, we are given a subtle nod to Dublin's docklands which are located nearby. Each level accommodates one main room, each of which is given its own identity by differing the colour of the floor. O'Donnell Tuomey's signature rusty-red covers railings along the street edge and the steel beams which surround the courtyards. A brick floor surrounds the main central courtyard, enhancing our connection to the outside. Flake board and a yellow, black, red and white floor help to reinvent the standard sports hall. 

The refreshing originality and materiality of this project provided us with the ideal backdrop to showcase the work of Colin Horgan, a fashion design student in Limerick School of Art and Design. Horgan's collection tells the story of a weak and naive girl eager to break free of her submissive ways. The strong silhouette of the padded, lamb skin shoulders, along with the impossible-to-miss structured red patent LEORE jacket and AGORA skirt, all hint at armour and the girl's desire for vengeance. The softer mesh and sheer fabrics represent the girl's seductive side along with her innate sense of femininity.

Be sure to follow Horgan on twitter and facebook to keep up with all of his goings on! Or even better, get in on the action and preorder his ZINA jacket now! You can keep up to date with the community centre here. 

Oh and don't forget that we are offering our readers 20% off Motel Rocks! Just enter concretecollar at the checkout!

All photography and styling is our own

Ciana wears:

first look
BAKURA Jumpsuit - COLIN HORGAN
gold hoop earrings - topshop

second look
FRANKI jacket - COLIN HORGAN
AGORA skirt - COLIN HORGAN
vintage leather cap
american apparel racer back body
black strap heels - h&m

Becky wears:

first look
LEORE jacket - COLIN HORGAN
russian red lipstick - mac
leather look leggings - topshop

second look
SAMI dress - COLIN HORGAN
white leather strip as headpiece
black leather strap heels - h&m

Many thanks to Om Diva, Fran Laycock and Colin!