Irish designer Jen Byrne has been creating one-of-a-kind slow fashion pieces from her Edinburgh studio since 2021. Contrasting prints and bright block colours are part of her brand’s DNA, insists Byrne. ‘Nothing is plain. Everything has to be multi-coloured or patterned.’ Florals, 70s geometric shapes and gingham pieces currently feature on her site, with the majority of fabrics sourced second-hand in charity shops or through donation.

‘Embroidered tablecloths generally become more romantic blouses. Then there’s [my signature] trousers with an elasticated waist that are really popular; I tend to use curtains for those because they hang really well and have a good structure,’ she explains. ‘I’ve grown up in a family that loves re-use. Everything would be repaired, whether it’s bikes or furniture in the house. My little workshop in my parents’ house has a table my dad made from a wardrobe, which was something else before that!’

While upcycling and sustainability are central to Byrne’s process (she also runs regular workshops to teach these skills), a new zero-waste project aims to eliminate excess fabric all together. ‘I’ve saved every tiny little scrap for two years and spent eight weeks just experimenting with different techniques on how to use them all up.’ Colourful scraps are now used to embellish t-shirts or to line trouser pockets, while ‘the properly shredded’ pieces can be quilted to make vests and accessories.

Every Jen Byrne piece is made by her own two hands so, understandably, stock is limited. A rotating selection of designs are available on her website and bespoke commissions, a particular love of Byrne’s, can be made on request. ‘It’s really nice to work with somebody when they come in with a vision. They instantly fall in love with a fabric and then we go through the whole process to create something for them as an individual.’ 

Shop for By Jen Byrne and check out all October workshops at byjenbyrne.com or @byjenbyrne on Instagram