The Hannah Ennis spring summer 2020 collection ‘Golden Boys’ is the launch for a socially and environmentally sustainable menswear brand that positions itself in the high end menswear market by offering intricate craftsmanship in shapes and materials.

With her Irish/German heritage and upbringing she moved to London to get an education and experience for contemporary menswear and seeks to push the boundaries on traditional shapes and materials.

Inspired by the great success of Irish designers in the 1950s Hannah Ennis seeks to apply some of the Irish design staples that were established then into a modern menswear context. Focussing on Dublin street style and putting an extravagant twist to it. Addressing the differences between north-side and south-side Dublin and exploring the importance of sports wear and the context around it in how Irish men tend to dress today. Historically the collection also draws on Ireland’s Celtic heritage and applies the principles of decorative Celtic gold and its shapes.

By applying intricate textile techniques to sportswear materials they are lifted out of their known context and changed to convey a new message and giving the opportunity for men who feel alienated by sports culture to wear them and express another emotion with them. The new shapes put the whole Irish sports culture into a new light and hope to draw reflection on it. The title of the collection ‘Golden Boys’ reflects the sentiment of the untouchability of Irish sportsmen and the critical cultural surrounding created. The new shapes are inclusive to those who find glory in sports as well as those who feel excluded by it, setting a softer context around the materials and culture.

The collection is built around materials sourced in Ireland including Magee of Donegal and Emblem Weavers in Wexford. Additionally Oxfam Ireland have provided second hand textiles such as ties and shirts. The history of these garments add to the storytelling of the brand. Most evident in the up-cycled shirt made of 9 old shirts and the ties bonded to yellow nylon featured in two outerwear pieces. Local sourcing and up-cycling add to the sustainability of the collection and educate the consumer about production methods and local fashion history.