PICTURES | Stylish fashion at a fraction of the price on Longford catwalk

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Colmcille Community Centre was alive with colour and community spirit recently as Longford County Council and the Local Enterprise Office brought the ReStyle Runway to life — a circular economy fashion show co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

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The event was officially opened by Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh and hosted by local community activist Myles Reilly. The Restyle Runway fashion show made a simple but compelling argument: new is not always best. From relaxed everyday looks to striking occasion wear, every outfit on the runway that night had a previous life — and a fraction of the price tag.

The fashion show also demonstrated the power of community spirit and partnership as every model on the night was a volunteer while local shops also embraced the event.

The clothing and accessories came from local charity and community shops, each of which demonstrated that quality, variety, and style are available locally in Longford, Granard, Edgeworthstown and Arva.

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Participating shops included; Preloved Boutique, Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre, Granard; Fabulous Finds, Edgeworthstown; Vision Ireland, Longford; Vincent’s, Longford and Granard; Enable Ireland, Longford; CASA, Longford and Clutterbug, Arva. 

The evening extended beyond the rails of the charity shop to celebrate the creativity and innovation of the next generation. Students from Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School, Granard, guided by teacher Charmaine Hetherton, brought their Junk Kouture creations to the runway — garments built not from new fabric but from materials that would otherwise have been discarded. Bright, bold, and entirely original, their work showed what imagination can do when sustainability is the brief.

Local entrepreneur Katie McCabe also presented pieces from her sustainable fashion range, ‘Threads by Katie’, adding a professional dimension that placed circular thinking squarely within the commercial world. Special thanks were also extended to Pauline O’Reilly of Dream Teams, who generously transformed the Colmcille Community Centre into a beautiful setting for the fashion show, giving her time and expertise on a voluntary basis.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, “ReStyle Runway is proof that sustainability does not have to be a lecture — it can be a night out. Events like this can help change how people see what is already around them. This involved tremendous community partnership and effort and I commend everyone for embracing this innovative ReStyle Runway fashion show. Longford is leading by example.”

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Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said, “I was delighted to open ReStyle Runway on behalf of Longford County Council. What struck me most was the breadth of it — young people from Cnoc Mhuire showing extraordinary creativity, community volunteers modelling on the runway, and local charity and community shops demonstrating a range of clothing. This is exactly the kind of initiative that reminds us of what our communities are capable of when we work together.”

Head of Enterprise with Longford County Council, Michael Nevin said, “ReStyle Runway formed part of the wider Circular Economy Just Transition Fund programme, which supports Longford County Council and the Local Enterprise Office in building local resilience and sustainable habits across the county. When we choose second-hand, we keep money in the local economy, reduce waste, and strengthen the community shops that rely on public support.”