Dublin natives aren’t new to the ARC Fashion show. It’s now in its eighth year, and takes places on March 2nd at the RDS. The show will be opened by TV Presenter Claire Brock and promises to unveil collections from Ireland’s established and emerging designers.
The show, which is produced by Eddie Shanahan and supported by law firm Arthur Cox, has plenty of heart and raises funds for a very good cause. All funds raised will go to ARC Cancer Support Centers, who provide free psychological and emotional support for anyone affected by cancer.
Dee Grant, CEO, ARC Cancer Support Centres, says, “The ARC Fashion Show now in its eighth year continues to raise much needed funds since its inception in 2014. With an audience of 800 people in attendance every year, it has become a firm favorite among the Irish public and a must go to see fixture in calendars across Ireland. With the proceeds raised from the event, ARC can continue to expand its free services.”
In Ireland more than 45,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year. By 2040, this figure will almost double. ARC Cancer Support Centres was established as an independent charity to provide psychological, emotional, educational and practical services to people affected by cancer. Today, ARC comprises three centres in Dublin – the original centre on Eccles Street along with two additional centres on the South Circular Road in Dublin 8 and Herbert Avenue in Dublin 4. All its services are free of charge.
ARC Ambassador Helen Cody will open the presentation that will feature contributions from Mona Swims, Eadach by Sara O’Neill, Caroline Duffy, Kindred of Ireland, Laura Chambers, Gabrielle Malone, Helen Hayes, Charlotte Lucas, Caterina Coyne, Urban Aran, Lia Cowan, Barbara Bennett, Not Another White Dress, FéRí, Cobbler’s lane, Linda Wilson, Caroline Mitchell, Heidi Higgins, Niamh O’Neill, Hazel Greene & Niamh Daniels.
We know that the fashionista in you is pretty excited, and so here’s more information about the line-up and what to expect at the show.
Ciara Allen will present menswear for the first time on the ARC Fashion Show catwalk and award winning designer Caoimhe Murphy will close the show with a specially created finale collection.
According to the ARC website, seven of Ireland’s leading milliners – Leonora Ferguson, Aoife Kirwan, Aoife Harrison, Wendy Louise Knight, Deb Fanning, Ailish McElroy & Emily-Jean O’Byrne – will each create ‘one of a kind’ spectacular hats. These will be presented as a special centrepiece of the show by a number of cancer survivors, affectionately known as ‘ARC Angels’, who bravely take to the stage and showcase this inspiring sequence.
The show will be staged in the Concert Hall at the RDS on a giant catwalk with a huge electronic backdrop adding to the drama of the occasion with lighting by internationally acclaimed lighting designer Kevin Saunders and special effects by Visual X.
Here is a handy link to get your hands on the tickets, and if you wanted to find out more about ARC and the work it does, here’s a link for that as well.