The Design
At the centre of the jersey is the Claddagh, one of Ireland's most iconic symbols, love, loyalty, and friendship held in two hands. On the arms I added Grá Mór, and on the back a St Brigid's Cross, which felt like an important detail to include. Brigid has always meant something to me, particularly through my years of abortion activism. Did you know it is believed that Brigid performed the first abortion in Ireland? A quiet, powerful nod to how far we have come and the women who came before us.
The silhouette was inspired by the retro County Down GAA jersey I had as a child, oversized with that iconic elastic fabric collar. I wanted something that felt nostalgic but completely wearable today
Making It Real
Once the drawing existed, I thought, why not get a quote. I tried to source the jerseys locally first, and while I would have loved nothing more than to manufacture them here, the cost made it impossible to price them in a way that felt accessible. With the average income in Northern Ireland in mind, a jersey that costs hundreds does not feel authentic to what this brand is about. Irish identity should not have a price tag that excludes people.
So I went to China, and found Max.
Max was an absolute game changer. She walked me through every step of the process, showed me the factory conditions, introduced me to some of the team, and we got to work going through every single detail of the jersey together. The fabric, the collar, the placement of every word and symbol.
And then the sample arrived.
I will never forget opening that package. How a rough drawing done on a winter evening with a glass of mulled wine had become a real, physical, wearable thing. That moment will always be one of my favourite parts of this job.
On Manufacturing In China
I know what you might be thinking. China. Fast fashion. I want to address that directly because it could not be further from the truth.
I did not go to China to cut corners. I went to China because I found the best team possible for what I was trying to create. Max and her team are specialists. They know their craft inside out, they take pride in what they produce, and the quality of the jersey reflects that. These are not throwaway pieces. They are made to last, made to be handed down, made to become the kind of thing you find at the back of someone's wardrobe twenty years from now and still want to wear.
Local suppliers, as much as I wanted to work with them, had real limitations when it came to bringing this specific design to life. I was not willing to put out something I only half liked. This jersey deserved to be done properly or not at all.
Accessible and built to last. That is the standard.
What Happened Next
I ordered a small first batch of 50 jerseys. You sold them out in 4 minutes.
Four minutes. I am still not fully over it.
Being completely honest, there was a hiccup with the second batch. It was my first time manufacturing in China and I completely forgot to account for Chinese New Year, which pushed back my plans to restock before St Patrick's Day. A lesson well learned.
But here is the thing, and I mean this sincerely. This jersey was never just a St Patrick's Day piece. Irish identity is not a uniform you put on once a year. It is not something you wear to a parade and then pack away until next March. It is everyday. It is something to be proud of, to style into your wardrobe, to wear on a Tuesday in Belfast because you feel like it.
That is what the Claddagh Jersey is. A piece of Irish identity you can actually live in.
I will never forget opening that package. How a rough drawing done on a winter evening with a glass of mulled wine had become a real, physical, wearable thing. That moment will always be one of my favourite parts of this job.
The Part That Changed Everything
What I did not expect was what happened next.
Within two months of launching the Claddagh Jersey, I left my job to run Dearbháil Designs full time.
That sentence still does not feel real when I write it. Running my own creative brand full time felt like a pipe dream, the kind of thing you say to yourself quietly and never quite believe. And then one product, one drawing done for fun on a winter evening, made it real.
Seeing my name on the label. On the sleeve. On something people are wearing and loving and sending me photos of from all over Ireland and beyond. That is surreal in the best possible way.
Because of you, I get to do my dream job every single day. And I will never stop being grateful for that.
Thank you. Genuinely.
Dearbhail x
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