My name is Muireann Doyle, I am 21 years old and a final year CIViC student. I have a keen interest in fashion, film, art and music, but my interest in fashion specifically was the motivator for my thesis topic. I enjoy observing current fashion trends and identity, whether it be runways during global fashion weeks, or discovering new small, independent clothing brands. I’m especially interested in how creativity shows up in everyday life, from the way people dress to the media they consume. Outside of my studies, I like finding inspiration through films and music, which often influence my personal style. I’m drawn to work that feels expressive, thoughtful and visually engaging, and I hope to continue exploring creative fields after graduating from college.
‘Styling Resistance’, The Use of Symbols and Traditional Irish Textiles in Modern Irish Fashion, to Resist Globalization. (2020 –2026)
This thesis explores the use of traditional Irish textiles and symbols in the modern Irish fashion scene. It focuses on whether the use of heritage symbols can resist globalization. The textiles considered include Aran knitwear, Donegal tweed, and the Claddagh symbol. It looks at how each are culturally significant and are used as symbols of Irish identity in modern contexts.
The research methods include semiotics, fieldwork, case studies, interviews and visual analysis. Semiotic theory (Dick Hebdige and Stuart Hall) is used to consider the idea that the heritage symbols are cultural signifiers. Visual analysis was conducted through researching the first Irish Fashion Week in October 2025. Case studies of Irish clothing brand imagery and social media platforms, highlight how designers incorporate traditional motifs into modern fashion, reinforcing a sense of Irish identity. The primary research conducted for this thesis includes fieldwork in Galway City to research the historic value of the Claddagh ring as well as how it is now marketed in a modern Galway city. The primary research also includes an interview with designer Aoife Cawley, Clothing and Textile Desinger, who speaks about her use of traditional Irish symbols and how she modernizes them and markets her brand through social media.
The thesis also considers the global reinterpretation of Irish symbolism, through collaborations such as Guinness x JW Anderson, an iconic Irish brand working with an iconic Irish designer, the creative director of the world-renowned Dior fashion house. This reveals how Irish identity is translated within international fashion contexts. In the fast-paced world of social media in the context of fashion, small Irish brands use locally sourced materials and original design to not only combat globalization but also fast fashion and rapid trends in online marketing. These findings suggest that traditional Irish textiles and symbols are not static but are continuously reinterpreted within contemporary fashion.
