Slice of the City
THE GOOD SHOPPER
Makers' Dublin
1. Stable
With a focus purely on Ireland’s rich textile heritage, Stable works with artisans from around the country to bring a luxurious edit of linen and woollen products. The brand’s Herringbone scarves for example, take 4-6 weeks to complete on looms at Donegal Yarns on the west coast. The brand’s collection also extends to homewares including table linens, towels, throws and blankets but for a real piece of woven decadence, try on a kimono-style robe made from Huck linen
stable.ie; The Westbury Mall, Balfe Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
2. Loulerie
Louise Stokes was born and raised in Dublin, and, after graduating from Trinity College, headed to New York to intern with jeweller Alexis Bittar. Having a front row seat as a world-renowned designer presented his collection to the top buyers in the business inspired Louise to follow the same career path. After returning to Dublin, she opened Loulerie in 2007 in the Creative Quarter, where she curates a world-wide edit of the best fine and fashion female jewellery brands. Only the best gold is selected for her designs, and all diamonds are hand sorted and sourced from De Beers Sightholders to ensure both quality and ethical provenance.
loulerie.com; 14b Chatham St, Dublin 2 , Ireland @louleriejewellery
3. Appassionata
In 2005, Ruth Monahan gave up a successful career in media to follow her passion – flowers. Today, her Appassionata Flowers business supplies a wide range of businesses and individuals – including The Westbury, where the team create magnificent weekly flower displays. Renowned for its creative blooms and displays, Appassionata Flowers caters for special occasions in the home to large scale events. Appassionata's flagship store sits on Clarendon Street behind the hotel, and is awash with colour and pretty flowers, bouquets, stylishly potted plants, books, cards, candles and so much more. Look out for Ruth’s new book 'Blathanna - Irish Spaces in Flower', a series of flower stories shot in beautiful locations around Ireland.
appassionata.ie; Appassionata Flowers, Clarendon Street, Dublin 2
3. Irish Design Shop
The four-storey Irish Design Shop on Drury Street is true to its name – everything inside the shop is made by up-and-coming local artisans. Established in 2008 at the height of the Irish craft revival, the store was the first of its kind to promote local design-led products and the people behind them. Jewellery takes centre stage (founders Clare Grennan and Laura Caffrey are both jewellers) but look out for the Áras range of homewares, designed exclusively for the store. We particularly like the wall hooks by Sligo-based woodturner Matt Jones.
Irishdesignshop.com; Irish Design Shop, 41 Drury St, Dublin 2, Ireland
4. Article
It’s located in the Georgian setting of Lord Powerscourt’s old dressing room, at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, yet Article stocks some of the best contemporary Irish homewares around. You’ll find beautiful terracotta plates and serving dishes in soft blues and pastels, dainty coloured-glass drinking glasses, and elegant trays and coasters too. Most of what’s on offer is locally crafted, but you’ll find the odd exotic treat such as ostrich feather dusters amongst the china too. The place also smells incredible, thanks to an exceptional selection of scented candles, largely crafted in Ireland – be sure to add one to your basket.
Articledublin.com; Article, Powerscourt Townhouse, South William St, Dublin 2, Ireland
5. Designist
For something a little more quirky, be sure to pay Designist a visit. Inside, you’ll find a range of unusual items that look great and make for innovative gifts – a bright retro tea towel bearing a 1980s advert for a packet of Tayto crisps, for example, or apothecary style candles made in Cork with scents such as tobacco, cognac and oak. It’s an eclectic mix, but everything is beautifully made and most items are from Irish designers. There’s also a curated selection of wedding gifts, that includes everything from oak decanters to chalk board clocks.
designist.ie; 68 S Great Georges St, Dublin 2, Ireland
6. Scout
Originally a clothes store, stocking brands like YMC, Armor Lux and Grenson, Scout in Temple Bar has expanded its offering to incorporate a selection of design-led homewares. Nowadays, you’ll find beautiful wool blankets and scarves from Donegal design studio McNutt, candles from Dublin-based Clean Slate and pottery from local collective Arran St East. And, it’s worth keeping an eye out for collections by local girl Emma Manley while you’re there, one of Ireland’s leading contemporary fashion designers.
scoutdublin.com; Scout, 5 Essex St W, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland
7. Kilkenny Shop
For the last 50 years, Kilkenny Shop has been at the forefront of promoting Irish craft and design. Now boasting 13 shops nationwide, they have three boutiques in Dublin – Stillorgan, Swords and Nassau Street, perhaps the largest emporium for Irish-designed products. The brand was the first to champion the likes of Orla Kiely and John Rocha, and continues to pick up pieces from the most talented new Irish designers.
Kilkennyshop.com; Kilkenny Shop, 6 Nassau Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
8. Paul Sheeran Jewellers
Since opening in 1990, Paul Sheehan Jewellers has established itself as one of Ireland's leading names in the field. Its Watch Room showcases some of the finest horology including luxury Swiss watches, while its jewellery offering, spanning a range of diamond jewellery including engagement rings, is one of the few in the country to boast an in-house team of designers, goldsmiths and watchmakers. The result is a blend of an exceptional service ethos along with the capacity to take on bespoke designs and personalisation options for particularly intricate pieces.
paulsheeran.ie; 7-8 Johnson’s Court, Westbury Mall, Dublin 2. Facebook & Instagram: @paulsheeranjewellery
9. Industry & Co.
Since opening in 2010, Industry & Co. has become Dublin’s largest and best-known independent design store. Brother and sister duo Marcus and Vanessa Mac Innes oversee the deli and the shop’s creative direction respectively – the store offers an array of new and upcycled furniture, beautiful Irish wool blankets, locally crafted jewellery and ceramics, and features a mix of local designers alongside some of the most talented makers from Europe, the US and Japan. When you’re tired of shopping, the deli offers a selection of delicious and healthy Middle Eastern lunch options too.
industryandco.com; Industry & Co., 41 Drury St, Dublin, Ireland
