Today, the quintessential Irish retailer Kilkenny Design has announced its collaboration with design duo Lennon Courtney. The new lifestyle brand has been unveiled this week by Kilkenny Design CEO, Evelyn Moynihan.
Kilkenny Design which celebrates 60 years in business this year, is embarking on an ambitious growth plan whilst remaining true to its heritage of promoting Irish design.
The celebrated Irish fashion design label Lennon Courtney was established in 2013, by designers Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney.
Introducing confidence, colour and comfort to stylish wardrobes, Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design has created a lifestyle brand, evolving into homewares and accessories too, alongside a unique new stand-out clothing collection. The planning and roll-out of the new range, is described as a distinctive signature brand for Kilkenny Design, and a bold move in Ireland’s high-end fashion and lifestyle scene.
Bringing colour to lives and living spaces, the new lifestyle brand dresses individuals and their homes, according to designer, Sonya Lennon.
Pricing is affordable for high quality design and fabric, with clothing from €55 for tops, while accessories start from €20 and homewares as little as €15.
Lennon Courtney at Kilkenny Design is very much at the inexpensive end of the pricing spectrum for designer ‘investment pieces’.
Strong demand is expected for the new Irish design collaboration featuring knitwear, trousers, skirts and dresses, coats and jackets, as well as special occasion wear.
The first AW23 Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design collection will arrive online and instore countrywide from 9am 26th October 2023. Customers can sign up online at www.kilkennydesign.com for exclusive early access.
Brendan Courtney,Evelyn Moynihan CEO of Kilkenny Design and Sonya Courtney announce new collaboration called Lennon Courtney X Kilkenny Design
All clothing styles are available in XS-XXL (sizes 8-18). Homewares bring a splash of colour, with fashionable cushions, throws and candle holders, while affordable and covetable accessories, including handbags, hats, scarves, and belts, deliver functionality and a bold fashion statement.
Slow Fashion
The new brand is 100% Irish designed, with a keen eye on sustainability credentials. Made to last, better quality and seasonless capsule pieces are inherent in this collection.
Handbags are made from recycled PU leather, known as ‘vegan leather,’ and the cotton used is BCI, from the better cotton initiative, to support farmers, habitats, and the environment.
The wood in the homewares is either mango or acacia wood, both sustainable species, and compostable eco-friendly poly bags are used in packaging. Both Irish businesses hope to work together on key platforms to build the collaborative brand, that goes far beyond product pieces.
Sustainability, champion green ‘support local’ credentials, and promoting equality in the workplace are all possibilities for the retail design collaboration to expand into social space, launch guests were told.
Market Expansion
2023 marks 60 years of Kilkenny Design in Ireland, and company CEO, Evelyn Moynihan, says the brand and business has come-of-age with a new confidence and innate understanding of its market and potential.
The design collaboration, she says, arose from a shared ambition to bring contemporary Irish design to a global stage. The Kilkenny Design brand has a loyal following around the world, particularly in the US and UK, and the new Lennon Courtney look is tailored to appeal to the needs and passions of the retailer’s core ecommerce customer profile.
Described as the beginning of a long-term relationship, this collaboration will see them explore other areas for the new brand to grow, across both the stores’ ecommerce and instore department offering.
Also, this year, Kilkenny Design embarked on a new own-brand journey, launching a first private label, The Heritage Collection.
It centres on core Aran knitwear lines for women and men, in contemporary styling and colourways, as well as luxury throws, produced in Donegal, by McNutt.
Evelyn Moynihan says the longstanding luxury Irish retail brand is evolving to meet modern market and consumer demands.
“The decision to work with Lennon Courtney is credited to the brand and brand principals’ stand on equality, empowerment, and confidence, as well as its reputation as passionate cheerleaders for women everywhere. It is a ‘watch-this-space’ moment for Kilkenny Design, as we innovate and collaborate to respond to contemporary lifestyle needs and wants.”
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