Fashion lovers are in for a treat this weekend, as The Merchant Hotel’s fabulous Fashion Teas return in sensational style.
On Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April, the 5*star hotel’s Rita Duffy Suite will provide a striking setting for four individual Fashion Teas, showcasing cutting edge spring/summer collections from a hand-picked selection of Northern Ireland’s top boutiques and designers. Excel Clothing, Art on Fashion, Harper, Gráinne Maher, Goddess & Swift and Ruedi Maguire will wow guests with their spring summer collections, alongside a fabulous champagne afternoon tea.
Models from Style Academy will provide a round table fashion show, allowing guests to get up close and personal to the new season collections whilst sipping Moet et Chandon Champagne and enjoying melt in the mouth patisseries. Guests will also be able to shop the collections hot off the catwalk, with pop-up boutiques for each retailer housed in The Merchant for the entire weekend.
On Saturday 11th April, designer boutique, Excel Clothing will open the spring Fashion Teas 2015 series with a collection that is sure to impress (12.30pm). Quirky homegrown label, Art on Fashion will be joined by decadent accessories from designer boutique, Harper at The Merchant (3pm). And in another exciting partnership, leading NI milliner and jewellery designer, Grainne Maher will showcase her latest collections alongside striking spring/summer pieces from Belfast based atelier, Goddess & Swift. Closing the spring Fashion Teas on Sunday 12th April, NI designer Ruedi Maguire promises to impress with a solo show featuring his dramatic collection of new designs (2pm).
Leading designer store, Excel Clothing has been at the forefront of the local fashion scene for almost three decades. With stunning contemporary stores in Bangor and Newtownards, Excel is home to designer brands including Hugo Boss, Armani, Ted Baker, Barbour, Paul Smith, CP Company, Michael Kors and Belstaff, alongside other contemporary brands including French Connection, UGG Australia, Tommy Hilfiger, Farah Vintage, Calvin Klein. Showcasing their news sping/summer collections at The Merchant’s Fashion Teas, Excel will present a fashion-forward show including Armani, Hugo Boss, Ted Baker, Michael Kors and Pinko.
In a fitting fashion pairing, luxury designer boutique, Harper at The Merchant Hotel and quirky homegrown label, Art on Fashion will come together for the second Fashion Tea.
Exclusive Northern Ireland stockists of Christian Louboutin, Charlotte Olympia and Rachel Zoe, Harper at The Merchant’s coveted red soled heels will be a key feature in this opening show, with a mix of classic shapes and colours and fashion forward styles ensuring fashion lovers are well heeled for spring summer. Taking the work of cool and edgy international artists and transforming it into stunning garments, Art on Fashion creates wearable pieces of art for your wardrobe. Their latest collection is characterised by sophisticated elegance, featuring bold contemporary graphic artworks and nostalgic retro prints in a spectrum of colours to create a look that is suitable for all occasions. Staking out new territory with the latest bodycon silhouettes and asymmetric dresses, the new Art on Fashion collection offers unique, stand-out contemporary pieces that would be a timeless addition to any capsule wardrobe.
In another exciting fashion marriage, Top NI milliner and jewellery designer, Gráinne Maher joins forces with Belfast atelier Larissa Watson and her artisan clothing label, Goddess & Swift.
Gráinne Maher will showcase a range of striking new millinery pieces at The Merchant’s Fashion Teas, alongside her popular Pluck & Devour contemporary jewellery range. A selection from her SS15 collection ‘Bláthanna’, which debuted at London Fashion Week, promises to be a real show-stopper. The collection includes a range of statement Perspex millinery, jewellery and limited edition bags with a colour palette punctuated by rich pinks and pale greys. Combining traditional materials with Perspex and Swarovski, her work is sultry, sculptural and perfectly balances form with function. Perfectly complimenting Gráinne’s pieces, the Goddess & Swift collection will include its new ‘Irish Siren’ range, populated with Irish Linen sculpted dresses, hand dyed umbre and hand-printed silks and Tailored Irish tweed, creating classic, enduring pieces.
Rounding off the spring series of Fashion Teas, NI designer, Ruedi Maguire will showcase a selection of pieces from his current RUEDI spring/summer 2015 collection, featuring pretty florals, muted pastels and bold pops of colour. Guests will also get a sneak peek into the future, with a preview of his forthcoming autumn/winter collection, ‘future perfect’, with contemporary space-age inspired pieces, accented with pops of neon.
Tickets to The Merchant’s Fashion Teas cost £35 per person and include an exclusive fashion show of your choice, served with champagne afternoon tea. Tickets can be purchased by calling The Merchant Hotel’s events team on 028 9026 2717. Funds raised from a luxury ballot at the events will be donated to The Merchant’s 2014 charity partner, The McDermott Oncology Haematology Day Unit at the Ulster Hospital, Belfast.
The Merchant’s Fashion Teas will return once again to showcase autumn fashion trends from a range of top local designers and boutiques on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April 2015. For further information and to book tickets, visit themerchanthotel.com or contact The Merchant Hotel’s events team on 028 9026 2717.