I try to draw attention to different independent brands and if there's one
brand I think you'll love if you follow my blog, it is:
Celtic Fusion Design.
Celtic Fusion Design is
an independent fashion label based in the west of Ireland and as the name
implies the label is inspired by ancient Celtic designs. The clothes feel very
connected to history and nature with most designs featuring all natural fibers
and folk inspired detailing. They create more traditional items like capes and
Tara style brooches, but there's also a number of modern pieces that fuse
ancient inspiration with current styles, like the
fae knotwork leggings
made with a hand blocked print. Personally I was drawn to a number of pieces
that fall somewhere between the traditional and modern--a very wearable but
pirate inspired blouse, tweed waistcoats, and the folk inspired
Harvest dress. The fabric mimics a traditional weave (while being so soft) and the threads
aren't dyed, so there's a very natural and earthy feel to this dress. I like
the ease of the butterfly sleeves and the tie back style that lets you choose
if you want it a bit more fitted or loose. It felt like an appropriate choice
to wear while gathering a bit of wild garlic in the woods near my home. If you love this dress or any other pieces by Celtic Fusion Design, use my code "aclotheshorse" for 15% off your order. 
Living close to nature has definitely had a direct impact on my style. Shortly
after moving here I gave up wearing heels (too impractical on the uneven and
often muddy ground!) and fell in love with more natural fabrics (like this
one) and tones. I don't spend all day wandering through idyllic woods, but I
do live rurally and walk my dog often, so clothes that feel at home on these
dirt paths make more sense in my life than the ones I used to wear when I
lived in a city. Falling more in love with nature through being so close to it
also has made me more aware of my shopping habits, which is why I've spent so
much time finding more indie brands and choosing clothes made from natural
fibers. I've also learnt so much about the woods and plants in my region--I'm
still so far from an expert, but every year I learn a bit more about what I
can forage. Wild garlic is always a favorite since it grows in such abundance
here, but this year I also tried elf cups and wild violets. When trying to
learn more about plants or changing my shopping habits it's good to look to
nature as inspiration--we plant seeds but it takes many years for a tree to
grow tall or the wood garlic to spread across the forest floor as it does
here. We have to actively plant the seeds, but it's still okay to allow growth
and change to be something to take seasons and even years.
While the dress I'm wearing is one of
Celtic Fusion's
more simple styles, I really love the thought and imagery that goes into some
of their more decorative pieces. I'd like to get a Tara style brooch to wear
in the autumn and I love the knot-work detailing that embellishes a number of
their pieces. Here's what the designer, Regina Tierney, wrote about the
history of Celtic knotwork:
While not much is known for sure about the historical purpose of Celtic
knotwork (other than decoration), it is clear that they are always cyclical
and never-ending. In this way, I have chosen to use Celtic knotwork in my
work as a symbol for the endurance of the ancient culture where they
originated. Through my designs, I hope to help continue the ideas that
Celtic culture symbolises. Using knotwork not only helps to keep that
ancient form of art alive, but also continues the never-ending cycle of
inspiration. I love that with the never ending knots the past is brought into the
present--the chain remains unbroken and can continue for future generations.
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