If fashion, beautiful craftsmanship and shopping Irish are your thing, November is looking particularly good in Dublin.
From Paris-worthy couture and centuries-old lace to creative upcycling and some of Ireland’s most exciting makers, there is plenty to put in the diary.
Leading the way is Irish Design Week 2026, organised by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), running from November 7 to 14 under the theme Fáilte Future Europe.
A must-see for fashion lovers is Standing Ground: Ireland-France, Savoir-Faire, Innovation and the Future of Crafts, opening at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, on November 11.
The exhibition brings a touch of Paris haute couture to Dublin through Irish designer Michael Stewart and his acclaimed label, Standing Ground. Two dresses from its first couture collection showcase an extraordinary meeting of Irish and French craftsmanship.
The Carrickmacross Lace Dress features a design hand-drawn by Stewart and created by artisans in Co Monaghan. Inspired by nature, the intricate design features motifs including brambles, blackberries and dragonflies and took an astonishing 4,300 hours to complete.
The Carrickmacross Lace Dress by Irish designer Michael Stewart
Alongside it is the Maison Vermont Dress, created with the celebrated French haute couture embroidery atelier following Standing Ground’s 2024 LVMH Savoir-Faire Prize. More than 500 hours went into embroidering its corseted bustier with beads, crystals and black opals. The dress is completed by a draped silk-velvet skirt.
The Maison Vermont Dress by Irish designer Michael Stewart
Fancy getting creative? The Cúpla Snáithe × Floral & Fred workshop at NCAD on November 13 puts sustainable style into practice, using native Irish wool to transform something already in your wardrobe.
Lace lovers can also try traditional techniques at Theresa Kelly’s Carrickmacross Lace Workshop: The Butterfly at the United Arts Club on November 14 and 21.
A Separate Date for the Diary: In Pursuit of Perfection
Separate from Irish Design Week, In Pursuit of Perfection takes place on Friday, November 13, from 5pm to 8pm, at Realm showroom in The Benson Building, Dublin 2.
The open-house shopping evening brings together Cushendale Woollen Mills, Emily Jean Atelier, Jane Carroll Quilts, Katie Spiers Glass, I Am in Pyjamas, Tara Gartlan Chocolates, Tidings and Helen Hayes Clothing and Bags.
Hosted by Realm and sponsored by I Am in Pyjamas, the event celebrates talented makers who care about how things are made and take the time to make them beautifully.
Designer Helen Hayes is a perfect example. Passing Dublin’s Grafton Academy of Fashion, where she trained, Helen noticed how its windowpanes caught different tones of light. The observation inspired her to experiment with folding fabric until its surface appeared to shift as the light moved.
A single bag can take up to three days to complete. Her philosophy? Good things take time.
Pick up one of her bags and turn it slowly to watch the tones shift, then take a peek inside. For Helen, what’s on the inside matters every bit as much as the outside.
Helen Hayes burgundy bow bag
Add complimentary wine, barista coffee and chocolates, and In Pursuit of Perfection sounds like a very enjoyable way to spend a Friday evening while discovering Irish design.
From Monaghan lace and French couture embroidery to creative upcycling and independent Irish makers, this November is a reminder that some of fashion’s most interesting stories are happening right here at home.