Day 1: Saturday 30th May at 10.30am

The Future of Irish Wool: Heritage, Sustainability & Innovation

This panel discussion explores the future of Irish wool through the lens of sustainability, heritage manufacturing, farming, fashion and textile innovation.

Bringing together experts from Irish textile manufacturing, wool production and design, the discussion will examine the challenges currently facing the Irish wool industry, including grading, scouring, infrastructure loss and market value, while also highlighting the exciting opportunities emerging around natural fibres, regenerative agriculture and contemporary Irish fashion.

The conversation will also explore how Irish makers, weavers, knitters and designers are working within global markets while preserving traditional craft knowledge and manufacturing skills.

Ahead of the panel discussion, a short curated fashion showcase will feature Irish designers and brands working with Irish wool and Irish woven textiles.

Meet the Panel:

Alison Gault, Chair, Irish Grown Wool Council and Professor, Belfast School of Art

After studying for a BA (Hons) and Post Graduate qualification in Fashion and Textiles at the University of Ulster, Alison created knitted and woven fabric for La Chasse Couturier Peter Lewis-Crown; a discreet fashion house who could include the Royal Family in their clientele listings.  Working in Milan as a freelance designer, she was engaged by agent Lucia Raffaelli, Editor of Vogue, which created design opportunities with Jean Muir, Kenzo and Pierre Cardin. Continuing to work as a freelance designer throughout her career Alison has exhibited at the British Yarn Show, New York Trade Fare, Pitti Uomo and IndigoParis, creating design work predominantly for Europe and USA. Working as an in-house designer for Belfast based Company Glen-Tara Fabrics involved the development of men’s, women’s and children’s knitwear for a number of High Street labels. During this time  Glen-Tara was the first company in Ireland to invest in emerging new CAD CAM technologies in knitting and as a result Alison was able to develop her skills in cutting- edge knitting machine manufacturing including Universal, Shima, Stoll and Diamant.

With key interests in both pedagogy and research, Alison has presented both Nationally and Internationally at conferences including, EFYE (European First Year Experience, ELSE (International Scientific Conference, E learning and Software in Education),  IFKT (International Federation of Knitting Technology) and Autex, on education and research in knitted textiles, materials and design. Research has also included a Fusion project with luxury brand knitwear company, Inis Meain based on the Aran Islands.  Alison has completed a number of Innovation projects with current research focussed on  the development of knitted products for ‘health and wellbeing’. Alison is Placement and Employability Coordinator for Belfast School of Art, is a Senior Fellow of the HEA and a Fellow of the Centre of Higher Education Research and Practice.

Moderator Roxanne Parker

Roxanne Parker is an Irish sustainable fashion stylist, journalist, podcast host and creative director with over 20 years’ experience working across fashion media, editorial styling and creative production. Her work focuses on supporting Irish designers, independent makers and heritage textile industries, with a particular emphasis on sustainability, natural fibres and contemporary Irish craftsmanship. Throughout her career, Roxanne has written and styled for leading newspapers and magazines, worked on wardrobe design for international television productions and collaborated with luxury commercial brands, while consistently advocating for ethical and conscious fashion practices.

In 2022, she launched the podcast My Soul Style, a platform exploring fashion, creativity, sustainability and conscious living through conversations with designers, makers and industry voices. Passionate about slow fashion and material sustainability, her work explores the relationship between fashion, culture, agriculture and environmental responsibility,  championing natural, biodegradable fibres and long-lasting design over disposable trend cycles. As moderator and curator of the DCCI Sustainable Fashion Stage conversations at Bord Bia Bloom, Roxanne brings together voices from across Irish fashion, textile manufacturing and fibre production to explore the future of Irish wool, linen and sustainable design in Ireland. Through her styling, writing, podcasting and consultancy work, she aims to promote greater awareness around craftsmanship, sustainability and the cultural value of Irish-made fashion and textiles.

Chris Weiniger — Donegal Yarns

Chris Weiniger is General Manager of Donegal Yarns, one of Ireland’s last remaining commercial spinning mills based in Kilcar, County Donegal. The company produces the internationally recognised “Donegal Tweed” fleck yarns used by global fashion brands including Prada, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, and J.Crew. Donegal Yarns operates a fully integrated production process from raw wool through to spinning, with a strong focus on sustainability, traceable supply chains, and preserving Ireland’s textile manufacturing heritage. Chris is also a strong advocate for skills preservation within the Irish wool industry, supporting apprenticeship and training initiatives to help safeguard traditional spinning and textile production expertise for future generations.

Patrick Temple, CEO, Magee Weaving

Patrick Temple is CEO of Magee Weaving and a fifth-generation member of the Temple family behind Magee 1866 in Donegal Town. He oversees the company’s historic weaving mill, internationally recognised for its Donegal tweeds and luxury natural-fibre fabrics. A sheep farmer himself, Patrick is passionate about the future of Irish wool, sustainable textile manufacturing and preserving traditional weaving skills while helping modernise Ireland’s heritage textile industry for a contemporary global market.

Meet the Panel:

Alison Gault, Chair, Irish Grown Wool Council and Professor, Belfast School of Art

After studying for a BA (Hons) and Post Graduate qualification in Fashion and Textiles at the University of Ulster, Alison created knitted and woven fabric for La Chasse Couturier Peter Lewis-Crown; a discreet fashion house who could include the Royal Family in their clientele listings.  Working in Milan as a freelance designer, she was engaged by agent Lucia Raffaelli, Editor of Vogue, which created design opportunities with Jean Muir, Kenzo and Pierre Cardin. Continuing to work as a freelance designer throughout her career Alison has exhibited at the British Yarn Show, New York Trade Fare, Pitti Uomo and IndigoParis, creating design work predominantly for Europe and USA. Working as an in-house designer for Belfast based Company Glen-Tara Fabrics involved the development of men’s, women’s and children’s knitwear for a number of High Street labels. During this time  Glen-Tara was the first company in Ireland to invest in emerging new CAD CAM technologies in knitting and as a result Alison was able to develop her skills in cutting- edge knitting machine manufacturing including Universal, Shima, Stoll and Diamant.

With key interests in both pedagogy and research, Alison has presented both Nationally and Internationally at conferences including, EFYE (European First Year Experience, ELSE (International Scientific Conference, E learning and Software in Education),  IFKT (International Federation of Knitting Technology) and Autex, on education and research in knitted textiles, materials and design. Research has also included a Fusion project with luxury brand knitwear company, Inis Meain based on the Aran Islands.  Alison has completed a number of Innovation projects with current research focussed on  the development of knitted products for ‘health and wellbeing’. Alison is Placement and Employability Coordinator for Belfast School of Art, is a Senior Fellow of the HEA and a Fellow of the Centre of Higher Education Research and Practice.

Moderator Roxanne Parker

Roxanne Parker is an Irish sustainable fashion stylist, journalist, podcast host and creative director with over 20 years’ experience working across fashion media, editorial styling and creative production. Her work focuses on supporting Irish designers, independent makers and heritage textile industries, with a particular emphasis on sustainability, natural fibres and contemporary Irish craftsmanship. Throughout her career, Roxanne has written and styled for leading newspapers and magazines, worked on wardrobe design for international television productions and collaborated with luxury commercial brands, while consistently advocating for ethical and conscious fashion practices.

In 2022, she launched the podcast My Soul Style, a platform exploring fashion, creativity, sustainability and conscious living through conversations with designers, makers and industry voices. Passionate about slow fashion and material sustainability, her work explores the relationship between fashion, culture, agriculture and environmental responsibility,  championing natural, biodegradable fibres and long-lasting design over disposable trend cycles. As moderator and curator of the DCCI Sustainable Fashion Stage conversations at Bord Bia Bloom, Roxanne brings together voices from across Irish fashion, textile manufacturing and fibre production to explore the future of Irish wool, linen and sustainable design in Ireland. Through her styling, writing, podcasting and consultancy work, she aims to promote greater awareness around craftsmanship, sustainability and the cultural value of Irish-made fashion and textiles.

Kevin Devlin — General Manager, William Clark & Sons

Kevin Devlin is General Manager at William Clark & Sons, one of Ireland’s most historic linen mills, based in Co. Tyrone. With over 40 years’ experience in the textile industry, Kevin began his career in the 1980s as a spinner with Herdmans of Sion Mills and has remained working within textiles throughout his career. Over the years, Kevin has held a variety of senior management and director-level roles internationally, including across Morocco and China, developing extensive expertise in textile manufacturing, sourcing, production development and global supply chains. Since returning to Ireland in 2012 to join William Clark & Sons, Kevin has continued to champion the heritage, craftsmanship and future innovation of Irish linen. His experience combines deep technical knowledge of textile production with a strong understanding of the evolving global industry, making him a valuable voice within contemporary discussions around sustainable natural fibres and heritage manufacturing.

Anneliese Fallon Duffy, Founder, Linen Shirt Company

Anneliese Duffy Fallon, owner of The Linen Shirt Company and founder of Fashion Connect Ireland, is a third-generation Irish fashion designer with a deep love for Irish fashion. Her mission is to ensure that Irish fashion continues to thrive so that future generations can enjoy high-quality, locally-made clothing. Anneliese’s upbringing on a factory floor instilled in her a deep appreciation for the skill and dedication of sewing technicians. She recognised them as the cornerstone of any successful brand. However, even as a child, she couldn’t comprehend why they weren’t formally recognized for the expertise they honed over the years. Thus, her mission became clear: to rectify this oversight if ever given the opportunity. On March 15th, 2024, Anneliese’s mission became a reality as the first cohort of Industrial Technicians graduated with the inaugural accreditation in the history of the state, to our knowledge. This milestone marked a significant step towards recognizing and celebrating the invaluable contributions of these skilled artisans.

Rosie Temple — Magee 1866

Rosie Temple is part of the fifth-generation Temple family behind Magee 1866 and works across brand development, heritage storytelling and contemporary Irish fashion within the family business. Through her work with Magee 1866, she helps communicate the importance of Irish textile heritage, natural fibres and provenance-led design to new audiences both in Ireland and internationally.