Dress design . . Materials etc. . . Dressmakers ... Kilts etc. for the lads

Dressmakers with sites (click here for ones without websites)

How we designed my very first
Solo Dress!
From Start to Finish - Here

or click on the picture

That's the dress on the right!)
Check out how we went from our basic ideas,
with the help of a fabulous dressmaker,
to the finished article. Read all about it here!

Also read see about my exciting time
at the Rose of Tralee festival
wearing my first dress Here!

Dressmakers

Eire designs - the web home of the man himself - Gavin Doherty! Info on how to measure etc, for his stunning creations. Belfast Northern Ireland

Eileen Plater - nice site with some lovely dresses from this very well known UK based dressmaker

Isle of Inishfree Designs - nice site with some fabulous dresses designed and created by Andrea Yates in Toronto Canada

The Velvet castle - really well made site with some nice dresses made bySheri Lynn Flanigan too!

Dance Ireland - a new site for selling your well looked after dresses. Maria has created a good looking site, and looks simple to use it too!

Elevation Design - A newcomer with some very nice dresses. Based in Belfast, close to Celtic Creations

Celtic Costumes The Whelan family in Dublin make beautiful dresses, take a look - Dublin Ireland
Telephone 00 353 1 8208774 or email info@celticcostumes.com NEW Website August 2005

Costumes Inc. made by Maeve Rankin in County Down NI

Danz-EZ - not dressmakers but they sell another essential - Sports Bras!

Ever dreamed of making your own dress? this young lady has! It's quite impressive and she tells all about it check it out here

The Dress Case Company - proper travel cases to protect your dress - see our report here - NEW website 16/8/04

Irish Dancing bags - Well you all need them! NZ based

Irish Dancing store - full range of shoes (Fays, Inishfree, Pacelli, Hullachan, Rutherford) Wigs, Dresses, Videos & CD's etc. (Two stores, one in Portland Oregon & the other in Waterford in Ireland)

Celtic Weaver - site under construction August 2005 - London 44 (0) 207 435 3472 & Dublin 353 (0) 1 285 1924

Shamrock Stitchery - simple site fast loading thumbnails. Long Island NY

Siopa Rince Teoranta (Siopa Rince simply means dance shop!) These are possibly the most well known dressmakers in recent years. Quality site offering dresses and all accessories through their shop in Dublin owned by Phoebe Donoghue (ADCRG). Prices are fair and the dresses are beautifully made - email info@sioparince.com

Dance Again Pre-Loved Dresses and shoes- Great idea from a Mum who is learning to dance along with her two daughters in Canberra Australia. You can sell or even just Give away all those unwanted dresses and shoes by advertising them free on this site. This is now one of the most popular sites on the web for dresses - take a look.

Antonio Pacelli - Yes it's true! The shoemakers have a section for dresses to be advertised - check it out!

Lets Dance the Irish Way Nice range of t-shirts/sweatshirts etc. from Danny Lewin's site - worth a visit!

Lewis Irish Dresses - these dresses by michelle Lewis look ok! Toronto Canada

Style by Kristin Duprey - really an embroidery specialist, but worth a look Cleveland OH

Cyber Angel The Irish Dance Dress Board For UK, Ireland & European Parents - nice one this. A Voy forum that lists dresses for sale and dressmakers details, with comments from parents about their own experiences.

Irish Dance Dress Exchange If you have some to sell, donate, or exchange, post your needs on this Voy forum

Lowland design - a new company in Holland! dresses look reasonable, and prices are good

My Irish Homeland - as well as music & DVD from Sean Brannigan, (not strictly Irish dance, but nice anyway!) part of the site is devoted to dresses from Carrick Costumes from Co. Down/Co.Armagh, with some special offers.

U Sew It - not a bad site, dresses a little more traditional and some special ones for adult dancers. Washington USA

FeisDress.com Nice simple site with a good gallery of dresses. Washington DC

The Celtic Dance Shop These are the people who have taken over the Celtic Image Business. The set up seems good so far. Just moved into their big sales unit, stocking dance accessories and dresses email:info@celticdanceshop.com

Created specially for you - Some dresses made to measure and a good range of dancers shorts, t-shirts and jewellery!

Lindasfarne Designs The dresses created by Linda McEwan are truly beautiful. Linda is originally from Ireland. Also stocks the accessories you will need to go with them. Canada SUPERLINK

McMahon Original - dresses made by Ann Podolanko TCRG in Sydney Australia

Sna Si Fairy Threads costumes made using handmade Irish lace! Nice site with some good music and some video too! Dublin

Jess Knight Top quality Irish dancing Solo Costumes made to measure by Jess Knight. Ready made Irish dance dresses and design service also available. Dresses do look good! (UK)

Irish Dance Costumes by Shirley Capon - nice tidy site with some lovely costumes designed by her partner Anthony, and made by Shirley. Also has some designs by her daughter Rachel Franzen who just happens to be a TCRG in Oman in the Middle East! Has guides to measuring, and creating your own designs etc. (Australia)

Irish Dance Costumes For Sale A new Voy Forum to buy & sell dresses, worth a look

Going postal Going Postal produces unique and very cool t-shirts from beautiful and historic Irish postage stamps.

Earthly Delights Aylwen designs some nice dresses over in Canberra Australia, and the prices seem fair too! Lovely new site Jan 2004! lots of interesting stuff including dance history. Aylwen actually shows you how to make a dress with lots of photos, definitely worth a look!

Simply Perfect! Some nice dresses here in ready to wear designs for the younger dancer (Under 11 approx.). Only £225! Call (0)20 941 2438 or e-mail Zoe or Kate . UK SUPERLINK

Celtic Creations really well made site. Suppliers of hand made dresses, wigs, and all the accessories you could ever want! (Ulster, NI) Tel/Fax : (44) 028 9062 2922 Ask for Nuala, she's really nice! e-mail sales@irishdanceshop.com

Dreamy Dresses - I love the way this site looks, dresses seem good too! Swansea USA

An Rince Mugain simple site with a good range of dresses around $1100 (don't know if that's US though!)

Blarney House designs - Paula Jeffers designs dresses that are made by lots of the top dressmakers

Claddagh Designs - FREE designs by Toni Howe. She was only 15 when she started designing dresses in 1999 and she has seen her designs turned into dresses by lots of top dressmakers including Siopa Rince Teoranta

Colleens of Canberra - a relative newcomer but pretty good - (Canberra Australia) - check out her guide to whether you want to make your own dress or not! (click here)

The Color Weaver (the American spelling!) Susan Meyer from Thousand Oaks California makes some stunning dresses both one off and off the peg

Gealach Ghaelach - impressive site with some nice dresses by Laura Colt (New Jersey)

Sheehans Irish shop - all the usual shoes & accessories plus some very nice dresses - Colorado Springs

Irish Moon - another site to buy or sell dresses

PM Dancewear - Dresses Shoes wigs etc! based in Dublin and run by Phyllis Meade who is a teacher and adjudicator with the An Comhdhail branch of Irish dance

Spirit of Ireland - simple site with some nice dresses by Marie Helena Carroll from Dundalk (Ontario not Ireland!)

Step About Dresses - dresses look good and made by a lady with 15 years experience (Australia)

Shannon Solo Creations - some reasonable dresses by Shannon in California

Thomond Dance Wear make custom designed Irish dance dresses to the highest standard and are among the best in Ireland - Quite an attractive site this! (Limerick, Ireland)

Patches Dressmakers - In their words A dress that is truly Art on Legs Leeds UK

Total Dance Supplies Just as it says! Everything for Irish Dancers e.g. all types of Shoes (including the Hullachan Pro) Made to measure Dresses, for the girls, and Kilts, Cummerbunds etc. for the boys as well. All the accessories as well. Scotland UK. Mail order available. Tel : (0) 1236 611771 or e-mail Mhairi SUPERLINK Also NEW Website

Dance City Really go out of their way to help. A beautiful range of Dancing dresses, some second hand available. As well as all the shoes and accessories that you could ever need! Mail order anywhere. Limerick, Ireland.

DANCEWORLD The place to go for all your shoes and accessories. Some dresses available off the peg. Bristol UK

Anne Flood One of the most well known dressmakers in the UK. Also stocks Fay's shoes and all other accessories. Call (0)1865 776184. Oxford UK

Irish Dance Wear Exceptionally helpful and friendly and nice choice of ready made dresses and accessories (Dublin Ireland)

Paul Keith New in 2005 Dresses on site start from £199! - Made to measure and ready to wear costumes. Call (0) 1304 367257 or e-mail Paul. Kent UK

Rince Arainn Mhor Championship Solo dress makers based in Donegal (on Arainn Mhor island)

The Best Dressed Ltd. Nice site from Judy Tatum in Pennsylvania, offering custom designed dresses. If the link above doesn't work try this one instead! The Best Dressed Ltd.

Dancing in Celtic 2nd hand dresses available and you can sell yours here too! This one is a commercial site where suppliers and feis organisers can advertise. They have just opened a shop in Bolton (UK) and now make & sell New dresses and everything else you might need!

Golden Harp Sewing Deidre Golden's dress site. She also make dresses for 18" dolls! email DeirdreGol@aol.com

Ireland Design A really good site with Solo dresses for sale from £600. They also have a section for second hand dresses. Well worth a look!

Midland Dancewear these supply a large selection of Secondhand dresses as well as New off-the-peg dresses. Also do all the shoes and accessories. Call 353 902 81773 (Ireland)

Irish Dance Wear Made to measure or ready to wear dresses, and Kilts. Shoes and all accessories. Not a bad site! Mail order (Dublin) 353 1 873 1398

Celtic Daughters Nice site this. Dresses and lots more. Info on dress design as well!

McMahon Designs Sew Irish Dresses made by Mrs. McMahon! Based in the Indianapolis area providing dresses for the North American market! Lovely dresses, and a user friendly site!

Churchfields Dance Costumes A new UK site with some reasonable looking costumes, based in Yorkshire!

Celtic Artwear Lisa Gandre's site for solo dresses. An improved site and the dresses look good. (from 675 dollars!) Useful guide to measuring too. Also dress bags! (special offer when buying a dress and bag together!) They'll also do Celtic embroidery on other items for you. Milwaukee USA

FirstCommunionWear.com Okay it's not really irish dance but a lot of irish dancers will need a first communion dress sometime! (Also supply all accessories) They do make Irish dance dresses as well so it's nearly right!

Kilkenny Creations Another good dress site. (Ohio USA)

Kilkenny Embroidery From Kilkenny (where else!) in Ireland. Have been supplying dressmakers for a number of years and are just about to launch their own rage of dancing costumes. Also do Bridal wear and corporate promotional items.

The Celtic Dancer This site seems to stock everything you'll ever need. Check it out!

Just Stitching Nice site this. Dresses created just for you. Choice of Fabric swatches to look through. Best of all they will e-mail you a colour picture of your design before it's made!

Knot for Keeps A new site with some beautiful dresses for sale. Made by Jo-Ann MacNiel a mother of three dancers! (Her models of course!)

Fascinatin' Rhythm nicely laid out site from the biggest supplier in Ireland for all irish dance costumes,shoes and accessories (Derry)

Threads of Green One of the best known dressmakers. Nicely presented site that has just been revamped. Kilkenny, Ireland

Kirsty Blair Dress designs by Ronan McCormack Made to measure or Ready to wear.
Phone/fax 44 (0)2380 463154 (UK)

Celtic Art Lucy used to paint her designs onto your dress! And it looked pretty good too!
Her dresses are all now applique with some embroidery but are still made from her own original designs

Kellswear This site not only sells dresses but has coloured shoes, and fancy buckles etc! (NB these may not be acceptable to An Coimisiun so please check with your teachers)

Irish Dancers Catalogue The Irish Dancer's Catalogue features: Ready made Dresses, Sew it yourself embroidered kits, Tiaras, Shoes and Accessories. They also do costumes for male dancers. Music too! USA

Dealgan.com This is the site of the renowned Musician Pat King. There's a great selection of Music and much more besides. Possibly the best selection of used dresses I've seen on the web, all neatly grouped by approximate ages of the dancers. Check it out!

Martha's Irish Dance Corner a great site for buying or selling a used dress. The detailed descriptions make it very easy to buy the right dress. CHECK IT OUT! Connacht Ireland

Dancing on Dreams this site has 6 pages of used dresses for sale & offer a free service for dancers to sell their costumes

Reel Irish Designs Dresses designed by Sheri Lynn Flanagin, former Director of the Reel Irish Dance Co. She has solo costumes and show costumes too (The Colleen design is beautiful. Take a look!)

DressXpress A new one on the dressmaking front. Dresses very low cost - They seem to be worth a visit

Celtic Yarns Made to measure solo costumes. Scotland's main supplier of school costumes (UK) email mail@celticyarns.co.uk tel 01236 432589

Dance Costumes & Fabric A good range of fabrics to choose from to make your next dress

Paddy Kelleher Another good dressmakers site. I particularly like the idea of the crop top to be worn under the dress. Simple site but well presented. Also have accessories.

Seams Sew Nice A nice, simple site with some delightful dresses made by Mary Staffrey in Ohio. She encourages input from the dancer as well, which makes a nice change!

It's Knotwork to me Beautifully handcrafted Irish competition dance dresses and accessories (tiaras, headbands, cummerbunds for male dancers, etc.) by Molly Bennett.

Melaine Gammage Hair bands, Lycra pants jewellery etc. email enqs@melaine-gammage.co.uk

Termon Computerised Embroidery Exclusively designed unique costumes by textile artist and designer - Aisling Donaghy Dresses made to order and some second hand available. Also embroider dance school sportswear etc. also sell Shoes, Wigs etc. northern Ireland - Co. Tyrone info@termonembroidery.com

Born to Dance A site with everything you'll need for dancing including some used costumes for sale, with some interesting stuff on the History of Irish Dancing

The Ceili Company A Site with everything for dancers, Shoes, Wigs, Dresses, and Music etc. They also do Boys Shirts, Bow ties and accessories. Also have a catalogue available

Originals by design Very nice looking dresses by Necia Amos - whose Niece is also a dancer US/Canadian border area

CJ Taylor designs some nice dresses by Cathi Taylor from Sacramento USA

Dance Spirit Small site with some really nice graphics and lots of dresses for sale

More Dressmakers

Margaret Carroll and Judy Goodson
02 4739 6439

Jennifer Ledwith
02 458 85369

Brendan Tiernan
02 966 07671 (fax 06077)

Rachel Franzen
(see Shirley Capon above)
+968 9947 2136
rachelannefranzen@hotmail.com

Dathana Na Heireann
905 824 6986

Janice from Philadelphia PA
TwoMacs721@aol.com
Also makes beautiful wedding dresses