6 minute read

Part art historian, part designer, part artist, Lou Brennan studied at Brighton University and NCAD before joining John Rocha’s Dublin studio as his textile designer. Over the years her designs have been bought by Donna Karan, Alberta Ferretti, Giorgio Armani and Dolce Gabbana, with some fabrics finding their way into the V & A archives. In 2019 Lou launched her own label of luxury scarves and pocket squares, inspired by her deep interest in Irish textile history, available at www.loubrennan.com and selected stores such as Les Jumelles and Billie & Oso. Based in Mayo, she lectures and gives regular workshops, posting projects on Instagram @loubrennandesign.

Nana’s Jug c.1950/60

This is my Nana’s jug and it resonates with me on so many levels. Nana was a young widow in the 1930’s in Mayo and the ICA, which was founded in 1910, was an essential outlet and support for so many that could otherwise have felt isolated. There’s an almost identical jug in the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, in Mayo and collectors often list these mosaic jugs made with broken crockery as Folk Art.

I regularly deliver workshops to women’s groups here in Mayo through the Education and Training Board, MSLETB, and the theme of social inclusion and connectivity is equally as important as learning a new skill and expressing one’s creativity.

Alexander McQueen Hessian Dress

This is the Alexander McQueen embroidered hessian dress from the 2003 Scanners Collection inspired by migrating cultures meeting and exchanging traditions in a harsh climate. I met Lee in 1993 and worked on many catwalk pieces for him. This started off as a long A-line skirt and remodelled as a dress and I bought lots of embroidery threads on bobbins at the “Handweavers’s Studio” in London which is a treasure trove for so many design studios.

Montblanc special edition “Greta Garbo” fountain pen

This is the Montblanc special edition “Greta Garbo” fountain pen with an Akoya pearl. I absolutely love it and feel it has almost talismanic properties and always use it for writing special letters and cards and signing documents.

Irish Lace

The collection of Irish Lace is made up of my own Edwardian Carrickmacross Wedding Veil as well as other pieces I’ve collected down the years. The story of the Lace schools has always resonated with me, especially those from Mayo as they were the most successful venture established by the Congested Districts Board in this part of the country and the work was sent to fashion ateliers in Paris, London, Rome, New York and San Francisco. I’ve used Irish Lace in my own collections by hand drawing and rearranging the various motifs to design 100% silk scarves. I recently exhibited with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland at an exhibition at Dublin Castle with a range of electroplated Irish Lace collars using a similar technique to that of Claude Lalanne who made many catwalk pieces for Dior and YSL.

Vintage Embroidery Kit

This is my vintage embroidery kit with new and old threads for mainly crewel work. I deliver many workshops, such as screen printing and hand embroidery and post lots of projects and instructions on my own Instagram page @loubrennandesign often with a reference to Irish textile history.

Nikki Walsh, January 2022