A Tradition of Craft: Inside Dublin’s Grafton Academy of Fashion Design

By Evelyn Rouiller

In an era when fashion education is increasingly shaped by technology, digital design software and mass lecture halls, one Dublin institution continues to stand apart through a model rooted in experience, craftsmanship and personal mentorship.

Grafton Academy of Fashion Design has quietly built a legacy over decades by doing something rare: placing seasoned industry professionals directly beside students in the studio, passing on the practical knowledge that lies at the heart of the fashion industry.

Founded in the heart of Dublin, the academy has long been recognised as one of Ireland’s most respected training grounds for aspiring designers.

Rather than focusing primarily on theory or trend analysis, its teaching philosophy is centred on the technical and creative disciplines that underpin successful garment design.

Students are encouraged to think like professional makers from the outset, developing a deep understanding of how clothing is conceived, constructed and refined.

A succession of well-known designers have emerged from Grafton Academy throughout the years, including Ib Jorgenson, Paul Costello, Louise Kennedy, Sharon Hoey, Helen Hayes, Lorcan Mulvaney, Emma Manley, Richard Lewis and the newly launched Rashiiid.

Irish designer Rachel Maguire ‘Brand’ Rashhiiid: “I want my designs to allow the wearer to say something without having to speak”.

Yet the academy’s reputation is not built solely on its alumni.

It is equally grounded in the depth of experience within its teaching staff. Many of the fashion tutors have been educating students there for decades, passing on skills traditionally learned inside professional ateliers and workrooms.

The principal, Colin Atkinson (pictured above), has himself been teaching students for over 30 years, guiding generations of designers through the rigorous craft of fashion construction.

His approach reflects the academy’s broader ethos: that the most effective fashion education happens through direct guidance, close observation and continual practice.

Today, Grafton Academy is the only college in Ireland and the United Kingdom offering this style of one-to-one industry training in a studio-based environment.

Instead of large lecture theatres or heavily digitalised classrooms, students work side by side with tutors who have spent their careers inside the fashion industry.

The academy’s teaching philosophy centres on the idea of pathway training – developing designers through a progressive mastery of craft. Students are immersed in professional pattern cutting, garment construction and design processes from the outset.

Rather than treating these skills as secondary to concept development, the programme views them as essential tools that enable creativity to flourish.

One cornerstone of the programme is a professional pattern-making method that solves base patterns, allowing students to understand the underlying structure of garments before experimenting creatively.

By mastering these foundations, they gain the ability to manipulate form and proportion confidently.

“A software won’t make you a better pattern maker than you already are,” one tutor explains.

“It can save time for sure, but your knowledge and understanding is what ultimately determines the quality of the garment.”

The academy is also a destination for graduates seeking deeper expertise.

Students frequently arrive from other national colleges with an undergraduate degree in fashion or textile design, looking for the studio training that bridges the gap between academic learning and industry practice.

While the global fashion landscape continues to evolve – shaped by sustainability debates, technological innovation and rapidly changing consumer habits – Grafton Academy’s approach remains resolutely focused on craft, mentorship and personal attention.

In a sector where speed and scale often dominate, the Dublin college continues to champion the slow mastery of skill, ensuring that the next generation of designers are not only creative thinkers but also highly trained makers.

Former students often describe their time at Grafton Academy as formative not only in technical skill but also in confidence and creative independence.

The close rapport between tutors and students – built through years of studio-based teaching – continues to distinguish the academy from larger institutions, where class sizes can often limit personal interaction.

For many graduates, the experience is about more than acquiring technical ability.

It is about leaving with the independence and adaptability needed to navigate the evolving world of fashion – whether launching a label, working within established design houses or applying their skills across related creative industries.

In preserving a tradition of craft while preparing students for contemporary practice, Grafton Academy of Fashion Design continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of Irish fashion.

Grafton Academy of Fashion Design is based at 12 Richmond Row, Portobello, Dublin 8.

See www.graftonacademy.com for details on courses or follow @graftonacademy fashiondesign on Instagram.