From the Leitrim border to the Paris Runway: Dowra woman's dream comes true

Margaret Coyne, owner of bespoke wedding and formal dress business ‘Margaret Coyne Couture’ in Dowra, has been selected as part of the prestigious “Ones to Watch” line-up at Paris Fashion Week this October.

A graduate of Grafton Academy in Dublin, Margaret has over 20 years experience in fashion design. Originally from Kildare, she moved to Dowra six years ago with her husband, who sadly passed away last October.

After a challenging period, she is embracing this incredible opportunity to showcase her work on one of the world’s biggest fashion stages.

Describing the moment as a “pinch-me” experience, Margaret is still processing the reality of being selected. “It was open submissions and my daughter came across it. She said, ‘Mum, go for this, you have nothing to lose,’” Margaret recalled.

“Next thing, I got an email to say I’m selected as one of the designers to watch. It’s a dream come true. As a small independent brand it was hard to imagine!” Margaret exclaimed.

With the international press in attendance, - including major publications like Vogue and Marie Claire - Margaret hopes the exposure will help expand her business.

“I’m hoping it will open up a different kind of market for me, something that can be made ready-to-wear and shipped and not contingent to fittings,” Margaret said. However, she has no plans to step away from couture, a craft she is deeply passionate about.

Memory Meitheals: Capturing Leitrim’s heritage through shared stories

Traditional singer and researcher Fionnuala Maxwell has gathered stories and insights from people across South Leitrim for Leitrim Heritage’s new podcast series, “Memory Meitheals."

“It’s an organic process - it comes from a seed in your imagination to something you can wear and feel your absolute best in,” she explained.

As a couture designer, Margaret creates each dress specifically for her clients, taking time to get to know them to ensure their vision is brought to life.

“I love my work, I love meeting my clients, I love creating and getting to the finishing line with something and seeing my clients being happy,” she said.

For Paris Fashion Week, Margaret will present a collection of eight ready-to-wear pieces, including two bridal gowns, and six day-to-evening looks. “It’s a cross section of everything I do, really,” she said.

Having spent her life in dress design, Margaret knows how competitive the fashion industry can be. Her advice to aspiring designers is simple: “Stick with it and find your niche - find your unique thing and go with it.”

With preparations in full swing, she is balancing fabric sourcing and pattern-making for Paris alongside her work with clients. But for this passionate designer, the extra effort is more than worth it.

“It’s a pinch-me moment. It’s great to be working towards something and to grow.”

READ MORE: Revenue seize over €235,000 in cash in Leitrim and Longford