It is now just under one week to the opening night of the UCD Fashion Show 2015 and final preparations are taking place. Behind the scenes work for the show began in October 2014 and the Executive Directors, Committee; and Crew of the Show are determined to bring the Show back to it’s previous glory for it’s 28th Year. The Show is taking place in the Astra Hall on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th February and this year it is in aid of CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Andréa Henry, UCD Fashion Show Producer, is delighted to announce that the funds from this year’s show will go directly to a very worthy cause, CRY Ireland (Cardiac Risk in the Young), an Irish charity that offers free screening and support to those who have lost loved ones to SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome).

The Show was launched last week on a sunny morning in UCD with this year’s models who were joined by Miss Ireland, Jessica Hayes, for a press call outside the prestigious O’Reilly Hall. Jessica wore a stunning red evening gown designed by Maria Lola Roche, a previous winner of the UCD Young Designer Award in 2012. Maria will join us this year to both judge this years Young Designer Competition and showcase a collection of her couture on the Gala evening, Thursday 19th. Henry stated “We are thrilled to be able to provide a platform from which young Irish designers can potentially launch their career and to welcome the hugely successful Maria Lola Roche back this year all in support of such a fantastic charity”.

Maria, Red Dress & Miss Ireland - Launch

This young designer has gone from strength to strength since her success in 2012, and has made huge strides in the fashion world of late, reaching the final five of the ‘Designer for Tomorrow’ competition judged by Tommy Hilfiger. As part of the competition she was given the opportunity to have her clothes shown at Berlin Fashion Week.

On the evening of the launch, Café en Seine on Dawson St welcomed a huge crowd for the ‘Most Stylish’ Competition judged by Dillon St Paul, Holly Carpenter and Rob Kenny. Marcus O’Laoire MC’d the evening with Jack McCarthy and Olga Lasherska being deemed most stylish on the evening.

Three Judges - Launch Party

Choreographer Elise Brennan, previous UCD Dance Soc Auditor and founder of The Performance Lounge has been putting the models through their paces for the past two weeks. The theme of this year’s show is ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ and with the models fully embracing each of the sins; Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony and Lust, it is sure to be a night to remember. The Model of the Year Award will be judged by the Assets modelling agency, Holly Carpenter, Rob Kenny and Lisa Madden who represented Ireland in the Miss Universe Competition 2014. The winner will receive a modelling contract with Assets Modelling.

Eight pieces have been chosen to be displayed as part of the Young Designer Competition, colleges represented in this competition include Griffith, Grafton and NCAD. This year the competition will be judged by Maria Lola Roche, Marek Hajdasz, Joanne Costello and Dillon St Paul.

Tickets for the Show are available from the Committee, Crew and Models of the Show, on the Ents App and from SU Shops on UCD Campus. Student tickets are €12 and adult tickets are €15. We look forward to seeing you all at the Show!

UCD Fashion Show Cover Photo