Dublin’s newest sustainable fashion market is raising some crucial questions for the conscious consumers of Ireland. The Circular went to see what the fuss was about AND got an exclusive interview with Designers in the City founder Sophie Benoit.
Mindful consumers are no longer in the minority, yet sustainable fashion options in Dublin are still frustratingly limited. As a result, the new slow and local fashion market, Designers in the City has sparked a considerable amount of interest in such a relatively short time. Founded in December by French native Benoit, and already appearing on platforms such as Girl Crew and IMAGE, this not-for-profit is growing legs fast and we’re here for it!
The Circular went to DITC’s second event in Ruin Bar in the hopes of freshening up our wardrobes with some guilt-free additions. Sadly, in terms of clothing, there were two T-shirt stands, Yayyay Concept and JKC by Kassi.
The Interview
The Circular spoke to Sophie Beniot, founder of Designers In The City about why there were so few clothing stalls and a complete lack of Irish designers.
“It’s just not profitable to design and sell ethical clothing. You have massive brands to contend with and Irish culture seems to be modelling itself after the States. Everything has to be efficient; we want everything fast and now. So it is just not a profitable industry to enter because you can’t just pay your staff 4 euro for their work.”
Surely the demand for slow fashion choices is growing with the current zeitgeist leaning more towards sustainable living.
“The interest is growing in Dublin, but the thought is that the price of the clothing is not accessible for people for the reasons I said before; the high cost of designers to make these items, so people are deterred from even looking into it. That’s why I started Designers In The City, so people can come and meet designers and see where their money is going.”
“But still, €20 for a t shirt made 100% organic cotton isn’t so much, but it’s a lot more than a t-shirt you get for less than a price of a coffee! This is the problem.”
Learn more about their upcoming events and how you can support a more sustainable industry here.
