Limerick City and County Council, with active participation from the Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Brooklyn Fashion Incubator in New York.
It will establish a collaborative relationship between the three organisations to support the development of the fashion incubator in Limerick.
The agreement is intended to give Limerick and the Midwest region’s brightest fashion design talent a new space for collaboration to showcase their creations, while creating a sustainable incubator model tailored to Limerick’s cultural and economic needs.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, who signed the agreement on Limerick City and County Council’s behalf, commented:
“This signing continues to build momentum for our plans for a new museum, after we recently announced plans to develop a new Limerick Museum of Fashion on Mary Street. The agreement with the team at the Brooklyn Fasion Incubator adds valuable new expertise to help us realise our ambition.”
Príomh Chomhairleoir of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr Catherine Slattery, said:
“This is a powerful move that shows how far our city and county has come. It’s an agreement that can give our young people who want to pursue careers in fashion and creativity the chance to dream big. Limerick has always been a hub for talent, and now we are creating paths for that talent to shine on a global stage.”
The three parties have agreed to collaborate in the following areas:
- Knowledge sharing: the Brooklyn Fashion Incubator will provide insights into its operational model, curriculum, mentorship structure and partnership strategies. They will also offer advisory support during the planning and implementation phases of Limerick’s incubator.
- Programme development: joint development of training modules, workshops and mentorship programmes.
- Remote participation: opportunities for Limerick-based designers to engage with the Brooklyn Fashion Incubator’s remote programme.
- Networking: facilitate connections between designers, mentors and industry stakeholders across both regions.
Director General, Limerick City and County Council, Dr Pat Daly, added:
“This is a key strategic step for us in Limerick in terms of positioning us as a global player in creative industry. It aligns closely with our long-term vision for economic development through innovation, international collaboration and supporting talent.”
Maria Barraza, Executive Director, who signed the agreement on the Brooklyn Fashion Incubator’s behalf commented:
“We are thrilled to partner with Limerick City and County Council on this exciting initiative. We believe in nurturing emerging talent and empowering designers to thrive and succeed. Limerick’s creative community and their commitment to innovation make them a natural partner for us to work with. We look forward to working together to elevate the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs in Limerick, Brooklyn and beyond.”
Mike Fitzpatrick, Dean Limerick School of Art and Design/Director of Cultural Engagement, TUS, concluded:
"The initiative to develop a Fashion Museum and Incubator is very much welcomed by Limerick School of Art and Design, TUS. As an institution, LSAD has been teaching fashion students for some fifty years. Many of whom have gone on to great success. We can immediately think of some of their creations that would be fantastic to house in a museum fashion collection in Limerick. More importantly, creating a dedicated fashion incubator would help retain some of the excellent talent here in Limerick and the region, which would be a great achievement for design and innovation in the region."
The Memorandum of Understanding shall remain in effect for four years.