You can always rely on Robyn Lynch to bring a taste of the Emerald Isle to London.
The menswear maven, whose collections draw on the nostalgia of her formative years growing up just outside of Dublin, has taken over Now Gallery in Greenwich Peninsula for her inaugural exhibition, Greetings From Ireland.
Open until February 25, 2024, Lynch’s showcase is the latest fashion exhibition commissioned by the gallery which, over the years, has spotlighted the work of Mowalola, Nicholas Daley, Richard Malone and more.
Collaborating with set designer Rory Mullen, Lynch has envisioned an inflatable house-like structure inspired by the bouncy castle birthday parties she’d attend as a child. Delightfully playful and laden in green smiley faces, once inside you are immersed in the history of the brand which launched in 2018 after Lynch graduated with an MA in menswear from the University of Westminster.
“I wanted to educate audiences about my brand and the development that goes into our collections, as well showing our tongue-in-cheek references. I hope they leave with a connection to what we do,” says Lynch.
From the structure hangs three toiles from Lynch’s Fashion East collections, still etched with personal design instructions from when she was crafting sportswear hybrids on the kitchen table of her family home. On the wall facing is a collage of images that tour through the makings of the brand, from backstage runway photographs and WIP snapshots of garments mid-construction, to colour swatches, dying processes and cheeky Pinterest bookmarks (a pair of Shamrock-shaped nipple covers being a highlight).
An extended film of compiled camcorder footage Lynch has taken since the brand’s inception completes the exhibition, alongside an impressive AI feature developed alongside publisher Kepler and Pauric Freeman that allows guests to virtually try on Lynch’s finest togs.
As humorous as it is heartwarming, Greeting From Ireland is a refreshing BTS look into the makings of Lynch’s label, and will make for an inspiring trip for design students and fashion fans alike.
Photography by Charles Emerson. ‘Greetings From Ireland’ is open at Now Gallery until February 25, 2024.
