| Determined Fiona is the height of
fashion  By
Cornelia Lucey
DEEP in Kensal Rise in West London one young Irish lady has been creating innovative
waves in the world of fashion.
Fiona Leahy who hails from Tipperary is taking the world of art direction
by storm.
Now embarking on a new collection of jewellery for Louis Vuitton, her
wealth of work ranges from art directing weddings to styling the stars
at major events.
Fiona said: “I’ve had some insanely amazing opportunities
but one thing I’ve learnt along the way is to realise your own power.
You should not be in awe of people you meet because at the end of the
day they’re the same as you.”
Fiona launched herself into the fashion world when at the young age of
21 she decided to get out of Tipperary and try her luck in New York.
The eldest of two boys and two girls she said: “College wasn’t
for me. I was creative and had to get out there and work. So three friends
and I went off to New York, stayed in a bed-sit in Queens and got random
jobs.
“I ended up in working in a trendy shop the Dressing Room and
then someone there asked me to help out with some fashion shows.
“It was my break into New York and through that I met stylist Patti
Wilson from whom I learnt so much.”
After five years and no sign of a Green Card Fiona thought she’d
try her luck in London in 2000 although she knew nothing about the sprawling
city or anyone who lived there.
Overwhelmed by London’s closed fashion world she settled for an
office job as an agent to various stylists.
Not prepared to give up on her dreams Fiona attended night classes where
she learnt to bead.
That as well as several other skills led her to try for an interview
to be Jade Jagger’s studio organiser and before long she was taken
on by Jade’s own management team at Garrard the oldest jewellry
house in the world.
Becoming one of Garrard’s chief event organisers she soon gained
a reputation as a voluptuous and dramatic designer and it wasn’t
long before the rich and famous were queuing up to ask if she would plan
the most important day of their lives.
But despite making it big Fiona has not forgotten her roots.
When model Dita Von Teese asked her to plan her wedding to Marilyn Manson
in 2005 it was Fiona’s idea to host it in Ireland.
Fiona headed straight back to Gurteen Le Paor mansion in Kilsheelan in
Co. Tipperary and ensured that the vendors would be as local as possible.
The 34-year-old said: “When I got the job, I thought ‘I’m
Irish, I’m going back to Ireland’.
“I’m fiercely patriotic and I didn’t want to fly people
in. I’m an Irish girl and so I used locally-sourced products and
produce. And I had to have Waterford Crystal.”
The future continues to be bright for this talented Irish designer with
orders for her new designs already being taken at Louis Vuitton but she
would like to see fellow Irish designers make more of a display of their
talent.
She said: “An Irish fashion week that is art-directed could offer
a showcase of amazing talent to the international world.
“There is so much talent in Ireland because the Irish are unique
we have our own island and there’s lots of imagination roaming around
because people are left to their own devices.
“They cultivate their own unique ideas based on their surroundings
cultural diversity hasn’t really happened yet in Ireland.” |
