Offaly man is first fashion student to win two of industry’s major bursaries

An Offaly fashion student has announced himself to the industry in a major way after winning the Brown Thomas ‘Designer To Watch’ Bursary for 2024.

The award for the 23-year-old from Edenderry comes just 13 days after he claimed the River Island NCAD Fashion Design Bursary worth €3,500 and a three-month London internship. The Brown Thomas Bursary is worth €4,000 to the young designer and comes with mentorship from the Brown Thomas executive team. 

Dennis is a final year student in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin and he was chosen for the award based on the strength of his collection titled ‘In the Closet,’ inspired by his own childhood of exploring self-expression, including knitting with his granny Colette Collins.

Dennis’s winning ‘In The Closet’ babydoll dress design (pictured) was in fact inspired by a dress he knitted for a doll as a child in his granny’s house in Edenderry. Dennis has said this childhood freedom to express himself is key to his uninhibited style, sense of creativity and now his success. 

READ NEXT: ‘A true wow piece’ – Budding Offaly fashion designer wins major River Island bursary

Another white dress in the collection was inspired by his mother’s wedding dress and he says his mother Louise Lawless always encouraged him to follow his dreams, “allowing me to be my authentic, creative self,” Dennis explained. He said he was “incredibly honoured to receive this award,” adding “it’s been an amazing journey at NCAD, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my work.”

He went on to say that “this collection is very personal to me, inspired by my childhood and the joy of self-expression. My Mam was always a huge support encouraging me to follow my dreams and allowing me to be my authentic creative self, for this I am so grateful.”

As the winner of this year’s award, Dennis will receive a bursary worth €4,000 and the opportunity to display his collection in CREATE 2024 at Brown Thomas, a showcase of Ireland’s emerging design talent, something he is looking forward to.

Announcing the winner at NCAD, Darren Feeney, Head of Art Direction and Creative, Brown Thomas Arnotts said: “We are so happy to work with NCAD for the ninth annual bursary prize, celebrating the amazing and new design talent in Ireland. It’s always inspiring to see the innovative creations from the NCAD students each year. This year, the creativity was exceptional, and Dennis Lawless’s collection instantly caught our attention.

“His ability to tell a story through his designs, inspired by dolls and his playful childhood memories of dressing up in his mother’s closet. Each piece beautifully combined masculine and feminine elements. His presentation, from the photoshoot to the storytelling, was thoughtful and well-done. We can’t wait to welcome him to our store for CREATE 2024.”

Members of the public can view Dennis and the collections of other students at the ‘NCAD Works’ 2024 event at the National College of Art and Design graduate showcase running from Friday, June 7, to Saturday, June 15.