Sybil – the Innovator

Sybil Connolly the Innovator

Irish women Sybil Conolly was a fashion designer, innovator, influencer and entrepreneur.

Colour Palette

Sybil’s use of vibrant colours attracted the media and the American market.

Petrol blue, moss green, fuchsia pink, vibrant red (washerwoman skirt), Lavender purple, emerald green (green poplin dress), burgundy were all part of her palette.

Techniques

Inspired by Irish people, traditions and culture, Sybil Connolly innovated using our traditional materials.

Handmade linen, Carrickmacross lace, Báinín wool and Donegal tweed were all used for the latest fashion trends.

She reinvented such materials by pleating, quilting and dying them vibrant colours bringing the fabrics into the modern fashion world.

Making

A Maquette is a small scale model that serves as a preview of what the final garment will look like. They would be sent on to fabricators and seamstresses to be manufactured.

Sybil gifted many to Gertrude Hunt for her daughter Trudy to play with as dress up dolls and some are now on display in the Hunt Museums collection.

Sketches

The design process usually starts with a design sketch of the garment, although Sybil was known for skipping this phase and going straight for the cut, her sketches still show her artistry and unique voice.

Sybil’s sketches showcase her elegant style and her approach to colour and texture in her use of textiles.