Irish clothing has deep roots in local materials, and those same fabrics still inspire designers today.
Traditional dress
In medieval Gaelic Ireland, men and women wore the léine, a long pleated linen tunic, usually with a woollen mantle called a brat over the top. In winter people added a thick woollen coat known as the cota mór. Traditional Irish dress reached its height in the medieval period and declined after the mid-seventeenth century.
Tweed and linen
Irish tweed has been fashionable for centuries, with Donegal at its heart and Donegal tweed the best-known type. Irish linen was renowned around the world. Aran jumpers, often thought of as ancient, were in fact invented in the early twentieth century.
Designers
Sybil Connolly reworked traditional pieces such as the shawl and petticoat using modern techniques and helped Irish fashion win international recognition. Orla Kiely is known for colourful printed designs, and Róisín Pierce makes flowing, feminine silhouettes from traditional materials. In 2025 Ireland held its first national fashion week.
Sources: Wikipedia: Irish clothing.
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