Move over Paris and Milan, Ireland is getting its first ever Fashion Week

The weeklong, countrywide event penciled in for October will show off all that the Irish people have to offer in terms of creativity, culture, and creation. 

Set to kick off on Monday, October 6, the event will bring together both homegrown and international talent to put on a dreamy showcase of style.

Ashley McDonnell is at the helm of the festival. Ashley’s vision for Ireland Fashion Week is bold: to place Irish design on the world stage, celebrating its heritage, sustainability, and future-forward innovation.

The Fashion Week will consist of seven shows, including an independent and emerging designer show spotlighting Irish roots, three flagship shows in heritage locations, two spotlight shows featuring the country's sporting success and rich culture through fashion, and a graduate show celebrating students of design.

There will also be five events held throughout the week, including fashion dinners, a month-long exhibition, and community events.

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Ashley McDonnell (via Instagram).

"The idea to create a nationwide Ireland Fashion Week came from a realisation that Irish fashion designers were lacking both the platform and the funding to showcase across the country," IFW founder Ashley explained.

"By creating an entity dedicated to producing events and experiences around the country, we’re now in a position to bring a world-class fashion week to the island and help brands with the funding of their shows, subsidizing selected designers and offering incredible additional support."

She finished off by praising the people of Ireland, saying: "IFW is a testament to the incredible creativity of the Irish people - both at home and abroad. We will see the best of Irish talent across fashion, design, music, film, and beyond all coming together for the inaugural Ireland Fashion Week."

Ashley has a pretty impressive resume; she was just 19 when she moved to Paris to pursue her dreams in the world of luxury fashion and now the Galway native has certainly made a name for herself.

She has worked with some of the biggest brands on the planet, including Dior, Google, and, currently, PUIG, the luxury fashion and fragrance company that represents Charlotte Tilbury, Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, and many more.

She previously sat down with EVOKE  to explain how she started her career, saying: "I've definitely received more nos than yeses.

"People told me it's not possible there aren't enough jobs. You won't make any money, you won't have a great life and it really put me off," she recalled, before deciding to bite the bullet and "just go for it". She moved to Paris and has never looked back.

Forget jetting off to London, Paris, or Milan to get your fashion fix, Ireland is the place to be for all things design from Monday. October 6 to Friday, October 10.

For more information, follow IrelandFashionWeek on Instagram.

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie