10 Questions with fashion designer Róisín Scales

Róisín Scales is a 4th-year student in LSAD studying Fashion Design with the pathway of Sustainability.

LSAD Fashion Design student Róisín Scales is highlighting the importance of heritage craft and intergenerational skills in sustainable fashion

Róisín Scales is a 4th-year student in LSAD studying Fashion Design with the pathway of Sustainability. She was brought up in a very creative household where crafts such as knitting, crocheting and sewing woud have been taught to her by her mother and grandmother.

During secondary school Róisín discovered the negative impact that the fast fashion industry has on the state of the earth and that spurred her on to start making her own clothes, beginning with bags and hats, making her way up to full garments.

Extremely passionate about contributing to the conversion of the fashion industry to a circular one, Róisín is highlighting the choices we can make every day to help make this change, such as shopping second-hand and buying clothes made from natural, biodegradable fibres.

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Her final year collection was initially inspired by a cardigan that her mother had made and passed down to her. In her collection, she wishes to bring light to the importance of heritage craft and intergenerational skills, and the significance of their role in the sustainable approach to fashion.

Can you tell us more about your creative upbringing and how it shaped your passion for fashion?

I’m really lucky to have grown up in a family where art was heavily encouraged. My mam’s family are all talented artists, whether that be musically or with drawing and painting, so art played a big role in my family as well as all my cousins’. I really looked up to my mam, and she would have always been knitting or mending our clothes when we were growing up and I was really fascinated by it.

I have really fond memories associated with making, like my mam helping me make clothes for my Polly Pockets and my granny teaching me how to crochet in her sitting room by the fireplace, and I think having those positive feelings encouraged me to keep making. One of my brothers is a photographer and seeing him go for what he wanted gave me the confidence to also pursue a creative career.

What was the feeling like when you made and wore your first garment?

I think it was when I went to a house party when I was around 15 or 16, and I had made a pair of zebra print trousers out of an old bed sheet, and I was delighted with myself. It always feels great to tell someone you’ve made something yourself when they ask where you’ve got your clothes.

What has your experience at LSAD been like, and how has it supported your focus on sustainability?

Overall, I’ve had a great time in LSAD, and they really do encourage keeping your practice as sustainable as possible, no matter what discipline you choose, which is really encouraging. I chose the Sustainability pathway in Fashion Design, and our class is the first to graduate as it’s a new addition to the course. The course was great for opening my eyes to different ways you can make your process sustainable, and I think it’s only going to get better as the course further develops.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about sustainable fashion?

I feel like a lot of people think sustainable brands are too expensive, and while they definitely can be more expensive than fast fashion, when buying clothes, you should see each piece as an investment that will last you for years, instead of constantly buying a new wardrobe for every season, every year.

There seems to be a positive, sustainable fashion movement in Ireland at the moment. How would you describe the work of young up-and-coming designers?

It has been really exciting and inspiring to be a student watching sustainable Irish brands gain recognition and to see so much talent coming out of Ireland and Limerick over the last few years. It’s great to see the strong Irish influences and craftsmanship associated with our culture communicated in contemporary ways through their designs and practice.

What changes would you like to see people make to their wardrobes to make them more sustainable?

Buying second-hand is honestly the best thing you can do, and websites like Depop and Vinted make it so accessible to everyone now. There are already enough clothes in the world, and I guarantee you’d be able to find what you’re looking for second-hand. I also think buying second-hand makes you care more about your clothes, as it’s more rewarding when you physically search for the pieces you want, and you won’t see them on everyone else after, so it also helps shape your personal sense of style and your relationship with what you wear.

If shopping second-hand isn’t an option for you, taking a look at the inside tag and trying to find pieces made from natural materials, such as cotton, linen and wool instead of polyester/polyamide is always a great place to start.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while developing your final year collection?

My biggest challenge was definitely the mental aspect of the creative process. When you’re working creatively, you don’t really get to take a step back, and I found it difficult to separate my personal life from my college work. I didn’t do art in secondary school, so the creative making process in an academic setting was a new challenge I had to adjust to.

What has your experience at LSAD been like, and how has the academic side impacted your work from the practical roots you learned from?

At first, it was hard to adjust as I had previously only been making things for fun, and for me. But once I found my feet, I think my practical roots complemented the academic aspects of the course. I found I work best with a hands-on, tactile approach that can then aid the development of the more conceptual and research-based processes.

What are your hopes for the future?

I did a 3-month internship in London last summer with Oscar Ouyang, an up-and-coming knitwear designer, where we made a lot of the work in-house. I really enjoyed seeing and being part of the design process in a professional setting, and learning about how the business was run and how the question of sustainability was tackled. In the future, I can see myself working with a brand and helping to incorporate sustainable practices into the business and design process.

What advice would you give people who might want to pursue fashion design?

I’d really recommend doing a PLC, as I think it would be great to prepare yourself for the course, as it does require a lot of work. I think it would’ve accelerated that shift from secondary school to third level for me. LCFE offers great textile and fashion design courses that a few of my classmates completed. I know the fashion industry can seem quite intimidating, but it does feel like there is a shift happening. Smaller designers and slow, sustainable brands are gaining recognition as more people are becoming aware of the negative environmental impacts of the industry, creating new pathways and a need for innovative design.