Sasha Donnellan - The Interview

By Ellen Corcoran

Sasha Donnellan emerged as one of Ireland’s most exciting, young designers during the inaugural Ireland Fashion Week, captivating audiences with her debut full collection, Lupus et Agnus SS26. The Mayo native showcased the new line alongside standout pieces from her Graduate Collection, weaving together refined French craftsmanship and evocative Irish storytelling. Lupus et Agnus unfolds as a visual narrative, dedicated to untold histories, cultural memory, and the enduring power of women. Tailored silks, wools, and plaids paid tribute to her Mayo heritage, enriched with Claddagh motifs and pure Irish sheep wool, all elevated through her signature French luxury detailing. At just 22, Sasha launched her label after graduating with honours from ESMOD Paris, where she specialised in luxury womenswear. Her experience at Vivienne Westwood and Dilara Findikoglu sharpened her expertise in design, pattern cutting, tailoring, and couture-level craft - skills that now define her rising independent brand.

She gave Fiche an insight into her inspirations, creative process and her IFW debut.

You take a lot of inspiration from Connemara, Irish heritage and femininity, could you explain the significance of each of those for you?

I believe these three topics are of similar significance to me as they each are components that make me who I am. Each one of these subjects plays a major role in my upbringing and my day to day life, and that is why they continue to inspire me in my work. 

I was born in Dublin and moved around before my family located to Westport. During this time I was unsettled, I felt an array of my qualities were being tested. People made me feel like I spoke about Ireland too much, or that I was perhaps too girlish - and for a time I withdrew from these topics in order to fit in abroad. But as I matured, I realised that these were inevitably the things that made me who I was, even with all the baggage I had acquired from related topics such as homesickness and sexism, and that if I wasn't to embrace it, I wasn't truly embracing myself.

That’s why I believe I draw so much inspiration from them now, they are the threads that weave me and my brand together. I use fashion design as my outlet, the way a writer may use a diary for theirs. So when I create a collection, I want my drives through Connemara, memories of laughing with my girl friends, and my admiration for the heritage of the land around me to be felt through every stitch.

How important is it for you, personally, to have elements of Irish culture and history in your pieces?

It's very important to me, but I also don't want to be typecasted as just one category of an Irish designer. As I produce my initial collections, I am making my references to Irish history and culture rather obvious, but I want to also design pieces inspired by other elements of my life as I establish my brand. Future topics I want to dive into are the loss of girlhood, tested faith, and my love for medieval arts. But as Ireland is a part of me, I know that Irish cultural references will always be a part of my work.

How was the IFW application process and discovering your role in the inaugural IFW?

I was originally just going to apply into the graduate show! It feels surreal to think about the imposter syndrome I felt when I then applied to the Irish Roots show, thinking I was taking a major risk. I knew the impact Ireland Fashion Week would have, and I felt determined to be a part of it, but I was worried that I would lose my shot all together by applying to the mixed show and being rejected.

I then was naturally ecstatic when I heard the news in late June that I would be a part of the Irish Roots show. I was happily working full time in my production job, where I worked with incredible clients such as Vogue and Cartier, and decided I would balance making my four looks for IFW while working. Then one day in late July while I was in the office, I got a call from Ashley McDonnell, the incredible founder of Ireland Fashion Week, who asked would I be interested in having my own solo show.

I knew immediately I had to wrap up my work and commit to this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity, because I knew how special it was to be 22 years old and get to present my own show in my country's inaugural Fashion Week. So in mid August, I left my stable job, put in all of my savings into a separate work account, got a full time studio assistant organised, and took the deep dive into creating a 20 look show for October 8th. It was all to do lists and late nights sewing from there. 

What was your creative process like leading up to IFW? Who or what did you take inspiration from? Did you have a clear vision of what you wanted your show to look like from the start?

My creative process hasn't changed much since I started designing. As a research based designer, I start by conceptualising and researching. I usually am guided my emotions as for the collection's theme, and my SS26 was no different. I opted for using the fable of the Wolf and the Lamb, with sub themes of resilience, Irish history, and oppression, as I was feeling particularly disappointed with the injustices being committed around the world and needed an outlet.

I came up with this concept all the way back in July 2024, the month I finished my graduate collection. As I genuinely adore designing, it is what I do in my free time, so I worked on this concept between my graduation and the start of my internship. So when I finally had a reason and time to create it for Ireland Fashion Week, I was able to revisit my mood boards and add elements to my designs through research, and I began creating the designs in June. 

As I dived deeper into my creative processes, I felt like all decisions were made naturally. From being so familiar with my theme and the visual narrative I wanted to tell through my designs, I was able to have a clear vision for the show with ease. Decisions on make up, music, even florals, all were seemed to already be answered for me through my research and clear brand identity.

What did IFW showday look like for you?

I think it was truly the craziest day of my life. I woke up early to head to the Google EU headquarters, where I was speaking on a panel with Oyindamola Animashaun, also known as Zeta the Architect. We discussed inspirations, sustainability, and, of course, the process behind my show, which, incredibly, was taking place just a few hours later.

I left in a rush, barely processing that I had just completed my first major public speaking event, because I had to get straight to the venue. From there, the hours flew by. A team of seventy-nine people were involved in the show, and I oversaw makeup and hair, took time to meet the amazing individuals who had come together for the day, and tried my best to quiet my nerves.

By the time showtime arrived, we all felt confident, both for the press presentation and the public show. It was a whirlwind of emotions, but ultimately, at the end of it all, I felt pure relief knowing I had done my job. I'll never forget during the second show, when I was watching the models walk out and saying to Siobhan Whelan, my show producer, "This is insane", it was a rush of satisfaction like no other. I didn't have any doubts that fashion was the path for me, but the day of the show just reassured me, that this was truly my purpose.

How do you reflect on IFW as a major event in Irish fashion?

I think Ireland Fashion Week marks a major milestone for Irish fashion. It feels like it’s opened the door for greater global recognition. Irish fashion is no longer something niche or local, and it’s becoming part of a global conversation. With the right support and continued collaboration on similar events, I can see Ireland developing a reputation similar to Copenhagen, and see our brands in stores around the world. 

How do you think IFW can develop/progress in future years?

I think Ireland Fashion Week has already had an incredible start for its first year and it’s laid a really strong foundation for what’s to come. Moving forward, I’d love to see IFW expand its international presence, and I think we could achieve that through dedicated Ireland Fashion Showrooms in cities like London and Paris during their fashion weeks. It would be fantastic for Irish designers to connect directly with global buyers, stylists, and press, and really showcase the all of the talent coming out of Ireland.

It would be amazing to see IFW continue to build relationships with international media and involve some of Ireland’s most iconic public figures. Our actors and musicians already are on some of the biggest red carpets in the world, and it feels like it is time our designs are there alongside them. IFW has achieved so much in its debut year, and I’m really looking forward to seeing it grow, and growing alongside it.

What’s next for you? Are you working on anything right now?

Right now, I’m fulfilling and posting orders, working on a red carpet custom (keep an eye on our socials!), and planning an event for early next year. I’m now technically working for myself, so I’ve definitely been keeping busy and making sure to keep the ball rolling after all the momentum from Ireland Fashion Week.

That said, I did take some time after the show to decompress, spending time at home in Ireland, working on my website, and recharging in the countryside around Westport. It was the perfect reset before diving back into everything that’s ahead.

You can view Sasha’s lookbooks from each of her collections online at www.sahsadonnellan.com and see all the behind-the-scenes of IFW on her Instagram @sashadonnellanstudio