A New Chapter for Sustainable Irish Design at Dingle Marina
LilyMais evolves into The Slow Concept
The Slow Concept, a bold new sustainable Irish retail destination, opened its doors on Dingle Marina on Saturday, March 14th, celebrating Irish design, craftsmanship and conscious production.
Formerly home to sustainable fashion label Lily Mais, The Slow Concept expands the studio-store into a multi-brand showcase dedicated to Irish-designed and Irish-made fashion, accessories and textile innovation. The aim is simple: to champion makers who prioritise sustainability, originality and quality over fast trends and mass production.
Established in 2021, LilyMais built its reputation on transforming repurposed hotel towels and reclaimed textiles into vibrant, one-of-a-kind wearable pieces. Brand founders Frances Fogarty and Feargal O’Cinnéide were keen to expand the ethos and welcome like-minded Irish designers to the space. Hence, The Slow Concept was born.
The circular design ethos remains at the heart of the space, but the scale and ambition of the project have grown with the addition of 24 Irish brands, including Conor O’Brien, Manley, LilyMais, Cleo Prickett, Pearl Reddington, Emerald & Wax, Everay Jewellery and many more.
Speaking about the launch of The Slow Concept, Frances Fogarty, founder of LilyMais, says the new venture represents the natural next step for the brand.
“Dingle has always been a place of creativity and independent spirit. LilyMais grew from that energy, and The Slow Concept builds on it, bringing together Irish designers in one space at the marina to celebrate thoughtful, sustainable design.”
The full opening line-up of designers includes:
LILYMAIS
CLEO PRICKETT
EVE RAY DESIGNS
ARDMORE JEWELLERY
CONOR O’BRIEN
BOFIN WEAVES
MANLEY
SO ROE DESIGNS
MAR KNITWEAR
EMERALD & WAX
ORLA LANGAN
ORLAITH
ILLLINA
SOPHIE BRUNKARD
DARE TO HOWL
A LITTLE IDEA
PEARL REDDINGTON
PURPLE PEACH
HOUSE OF KERRY
SNUGÍ
ELLIE
LJ MAY
INAKSY
ALEXA
Each designer will have a dedicated presence in the space, creating a collective environment that feels more like a gallery of wearable art than a traditional retail store. From knitwear and contemporary tailoring to jewellery, leather goods, bags and reimagined textiles, the offering reflects the depth and diversity of Ireland’s independent design scene.
The Slow Concept is built around the belief that how something is made matters as much as how it looks. Many of the featured makers work with natural fibres, reclaimed materials or small-batch production models, reinforcing a shared commitment to thoughtful consumption and long-lasting design.
Located on Dingle’s Marina, a town widely recognised for its creativity and strong environmental values, the new concept aims to become a destination for fashion lovers and visitors alike, seeking authentic Irish design with integrity.
To stay up to date with The Slow Concept, visit @theslowconcept.dingle on Instagram.