Fashion Fix – Irish Design: Sophie Rieu Spring | Summer 2016

Sophie Rieu – ‘A Print and a Trim’

Spring | Summer 2016

Sophie Rieu launched her label Unicorn, the first sustainable fashion label in Ireland, in May 2003. Growing up in the picturesque surroundings of le Massif Central in France, the transition to this green isle of Ireland was, most likely, an easy one.

With her respect for nature it was paramount to Sophie that the fabrics and textiles used in her designs be ethically produced. Her collections which are made in Ireland, are made from organic fair trade cotton, wool, linen, hemp and silk that are made in Ireland, the UK, France, Germany and Italy.

Sophie’s motto is “Understated elegance with a pinch of playful quirkiness” and her newest collection, the first one released under her own name Sophie Rieu ‘A Print and a Trim’ for Spring | Summer 2016, effortlessly reflects this.

Taking inspiration from textile prints by Irish Textile Artist Olga Tiernan, Sophie has created a collection of dresses, tops and skirts.

“My muse for this collection is a strong wise woman in touch with her vulnerability, a very real woman. Very much like in classic fairy tales where the heroine in Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood etc… confronts the dark forces of Nature and comes out stronger and wiser.” Sophie Rieu

Her collection represents Ireland’s textile crafts as they are made in Greystones and Blessington Co. Wicklow from organic fair trade cotton, Irish linen and silk … but also, in my opinion represent Sophie’s French roots as they have that ‘je nais se quoi’ of effortless chic.