Waterford designer to debut at the Design Centre at Powerscourt

Waterford based fashion label, Lutsia, will make its national debut with a “limited edition” of scarves and accessories at Powerscourt Design Centre this Autumn.

Based in the Kite Design Studio, in the heart of Waterford’s Viking Triangle, Lutsia received a very positive reaction from buyers at Showcase at the RDS, Ireland’s Creative Expo.  Showcase actively promotes unique, Irish, design-led products in fashion, crafts, gifts and home accessories and featured almost 450 exhibitors in 2014.

Lutsia was founded by Lucia Domoradova, a second generation seamstress from Slovakia in May 2013.  She was delighted with the response to her collection at Showcase, “It was a great opportunity for a start-up like ours to be at the centre of the fashion and craft industry.  We were supported by Waterford Enterprise Board and as a result got to attend the event with six other local craft producers.  It was a very fast- paced event with influential buyers from across Ireland, Europe and the USA sourcing Irish products.”

“We were extremely fortunate in meeting with the Design Centre at Powerscourt and were asked to create a bespoke “limited edition” of our textured scarves for their Autumn season.  For a small company like ours, making contacts with fashion buyers who showed a genuine interest in our range over the four day event has been invaluable to us.”

Ciaran Cullen, Chief Executive (Acting), Waterford City Enterprise Board, which supports businesses in the Kite Design Studio said, “We are delighted to support and assist a business like Lutsia.  Lucia’s creative flair, eye for detail, and unique fashion insight is gaining her national and international recognition.”

“The beauty of the Kite Design Studio is that it nurtures a creative spirit and all the businesses there feed off each other’s energy, passion and imagination.  Waterford has always been recognised as a city that has many talented craftspeople and Lucia is testament to the fact that they can be recognised much further afield.”

To view the range of ladies fashion, scarves and accessories and bespoke dressmaking service for all occasions, call to Lutsia at the Kite Design Studio, Henrietta Street, Waterford or visit www.lutsia.ie.

If you have a start- up idea talk to Waterford City Enterprise Board by calling 051 852883 or go to www.waterfordceb.com.

Button and Co. has the last four years sewn up!

Button and Co., which creates unique and innovative jewellery collections, celebrates its fourth birthday this month.

The business, which was started by Waterford goldsmith Elaine Sarah Comerford, has had an eventful four years; won many awards, received numerous glowing citations from the craft world and has even been backed by a Dragon.

According to Elaine Sarah the inspiration came from her mum who is an avid sewer.  “When I was little my Mum used to make a lot of our clothes and I was always surrounded by bits of fabric, patterns and button tins.  Many years later during a visit home I noticed the button tin as if for the first time and it evoked really strong childhood memories.  From there, Button and Co. was born.”

Inspired by the memories that related to the button tin Elaine Sarah created a collection of jewellery that would represent people's memories. The memory bracelet was her first creation and since then Elaine Sarah has produced over 20 further collections, including the Signature Collection, Button and Co. Bridal and the C’est Moi Collection.

In 2009, Elaine Sarah was a contestant on RTE’s Dragons’ Den, which gives Irish entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their business ideas to five venture capitalists. Button and Co. was backed by then Dragon, Niall O’ Farrell and Elaine Sarah hasn’t looked back.

“In the past four years I was honoured to be invited onto the panel for the Young Entrepreneur Awards in Kerry, I have addressed Dublin’s Rotary Club as part of their International Women’s Day Celebrations and we have won several industry awards including Best Product and Editor’s Choice at the London International Jewellery Show.”

July is cause for double celebration as Button and Co. recently moved into its new premises, the Kite Design Studio, a collective of creative and innovative craftspeople producing some of Waterford’s finest crafts in the heart of the Viking Triangle.

Ciaran Cullen, Chief Executive, Waterford City Enterprise Board welcomed Button and Co. to the Kite Design Studios.  “We are delighted to have Elaine Sarah working as part of the Kite collective.  The studio houses a host of exciting and novel craftspeople creating a superb range of glass, ceramics and jewellery. 

In the short time that Elaine Sarah has been at Kite, she has proved herself a natural leader and is working well with the other businesses in the studio in building the profile of craft in Waterford.”

To celebrate its 4th Birthday Button and Co. is giving away a beautiful piece of jewellery.  Find out more details of how you could win by checking out www.facebook.com/buttonandco or call Button and Co. on 051 858914.

If you have a start- up idea talk to Waterford City Enterprise Board by calling 051 852883 or go to www.waterfordceb.com.

Waterford artists take flight!

Waterford City Enterprise Board and Waterford Adult Education Centre (WAEC) recently launched “First Flight”, an enterprise programme which assists small craft start-ups.

Based in the Kite Design Studio, in the heart of Waterford’s Viking Triangle, First Flight is already working with the first group of students, providing them with workspace, mentoring assistance and practical business advice.  All of the students are currently undertaking the Craft and Fashion Design programmes at Waterford Adult Education Centre.

According to Helena Finlay, Course Co-ordinator, WAEC, First Flight is a great opportunity for craft start-ups to move into the professional workplace. 

 

“This is an exciting collaboration with Waterford City Enterprise Board as it gives our students the chance to take their business ideas to the next level.  Waterford has a really strong craft heritage, in everything from fashion design, jewellery and glassware.”

“At WAEC, our students learn and develop skills in art, craft and design to produce unique creations, all the while acquiring a Fetac Level 5 qualification.  What First Flight does is help them to then develop their commercial and business acumen.  The students, by working in such a vibrant and inspired setting as the Kite Design Studio, are in a better position to grow their businesses commercially.”

The three businesses undertaking the First Flight Programme are Andrew Phelan of Crea Jewellery Design, Lucia Domoradova of Lutsia Fashions and Lenka Jindrichova of Blossom Jewellery Design.

Ciaran Cullen, Chief Executive, Waterford City Enterprise Board is delighted to develop the project.  “Waterford City Enterprise Board has worked closely with the Kite Design Studio over the last two and a half years and in that time we have seen it home to many new, exciting and successful businesses.  The Kite Design Studio has helped to consolidate Waterford’s well regarded creative tradition in glass making, jewellery and ceramics.” 

Ciaran added, “Due to the progress and accomplishments of these businesses Waterford City Enterprise Board is now in a position to move away from the day to day running of the studio.  However our ethos remains to encourage and harness start-ups.”

“That’s why we are very excited about the budding new craft enterprises coming through Waterford Adult Education Centre and are delighted to be in a position to help ease their transition into the business space.”

“At Waterford City Enterprise Board we offer assistance in the form of mentoring and financial contributions to start-ups that have the potential to grow and showcase Waterford’s entrepreneurial spirit, something that these three start ups have in abundance.”

If you want to find out more about the free Art, Craft and Design Programmes

at Waterford Adult Education Centre, visit www.adulteducationcentre.ie or call 051 852803.  If you have a start- up idea talk to Waterford City Enterprise Board by calling 051 852883 or log onto www.waterfordceb.com.