by Amelia Burke & Aoife Loughery
An Iconic Tribute to Women : Abby Cahill’s Celebration of Femininity.
In a fashion world that is full of fast fashion, trends and mass production, Abby Cahill is creating something with a different purpose.
She mixes sustainability with a strong sense of femininity and storytelling to create pieces that are timeless.
What began as a passion project, has quickly gained admiration. With her distinctive creations and individuality, Abby has attracted widespread attention online.
Abby’s approach to fashion is shaped by her creativity and desire to make clothes that mean just as much to us as they do to her.
Journey to fashion
Abby didn’t take the traditional road into the fashion industry, instead, she made the inevitable switch from engineering after she discovered her passion from experimenting and self teaching.
She spent her time in UCD involved in fashion events and despite completing a course completely different to what she was passionate about, Abby has now created a recognisable creative identity.
Her brand, Ode to Mná highlights that creativity is never limited and reflects Abby’s love of femininity, craft and historical influences.
Meaning behind the brand
One of the designer’s most admirable and significant traits is her dedication to femininity and women.
Abby spoke about how her brand name “Ode to Mná” was inspired by the idea of an ode (tribute) to women who have shaped her life and her creative vision. “My pieces are about femininity”.
The name is authentic and celebrates generations of women whose craft and creativity went unrecognised.
Abby draws inspiration from fashion throughout history and also mentions her grandmothers both who have influenced her love for fashion in different ways, both fostering a love for style that has been passed down, even naming one of her pieces after her grandmother Josie.
Abby reflects how her mother learned to sew from her grandmother and describes it as “all them things passed on”, a phrase that perfectly describes and captures the spirit of the brand, not only as the talent that was “passed on” but also the creativity, passion and stories of women that came before her.
Through her art and designs, Abby is creating something to preserve that legacy and inspire women to come.
Designing with a purpose
Abby makes it clear that, to her, every garment must have a reason to exist. Instead of following trends she believes fashion should be thoughtful, sustainable and unique. ”I’d rather people buy something second hand than buy something new from me”, she says, “I want to create something you can’t already get”.
She shows that sustainability is more than just materials but also about designing with intention. “You need to be conscious when you’re making things, that they need to exist in the world”, and her commitment to natural fibres and timeless, unique designs show us this.
The Future of the Brand
Although Abby’s career is just getting started, her goals are definite.
She is currently searching for ways she can turn her handmade works into a well known fashion brand, after getting a big response to her work on the internet.
While the growing demand for her work is exciting, she acknowledges that it also is intimidating to move forward with manufacturing.
She says, “I have never meant on getting something manufactured” but the positive reaction to her work has made her reconsider.
Abby is committed to making sure each piece has the same level of quality, skill and attention to detail that initially attracted customers to her designs.
For the future, her goals include releasing seasonal collections, making unique items for musicians or artists, putting on her own runway show and eventually mentoring young designers.
“It is my dream to build a brand”.
Abby Cahill embodies an exciting new generation of Irish fashion with her distinct vision, strong sense of purpose and deep connection to the stories behind her designs.
Her story shows that passion and genuineness can be just as important as experience. She is demonstrating that the future of fashion can be both inventive and significant.
With her talent and ambition, this is only the beginning to what promises to be an inspiring journey.