The worlds of agriculture and apparel converge at a groundbreaking event taking place in Kinsale from May 10-11. Over the course of two days, ‘Fashion and Farming Festival 2025’ will bring together farmers, designers, sowers, and growers to explore the relationship between what we wear and the land that sustains us.
The festival is the brainchild of Mareta Doyle, founder of the internationally acclaimed Kinsale Arts Festival, who is joining forces with luxury fashion and lifestyle editor Ciara Hunt and award-winning writer Gemma Tipton to curate a festival that doesn’t just start conversations but fosters real change.
Fashion and farming may seem like an unlikely duo, but their histories have long been intertwined. As industrialisation has widened the gap between the two, our ecosystems and economies have suffered. The ‘Fashion and Farming Festival 2025’ aims to mend that disconnect – reimagining a world where fashion is sustainable, ethical, and deeply connected to nature. With an impressive lineup of thought leaders, creatives, and change-makers, this festival offers an immersive experience featuring discussions, performances, workshops and a taste of sustainably sourced food.
Among the extraordinary roster of speakers are Darina Allen, Ireland’s celebrated chef, food writer, and organic farming advocate; Alison Gault, an internationally renowned fashion educator and designer; Blátnaid Gallagher, a champion of Irish wool, biodiversity, and ethical farming; Sinéad Cusack, acclaimed actress, environmentalist, and small-scale farmer; Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project and a global leader in ecological innovation; Mairead McGuinness, MEP and former European Commissioner with a focus on sustainability; Helen Keyes, an advocate for Irish Linen and responsible textile production; Adam Clayton, musician and champion of ethical fashion; Coco Baraer Panazza, a French entrepreneur and circular fashion economy expert; Mary Fellowes, a luxury fashion editor and sustainability consultant; and Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy, soil experts and founders of ‘The Land Gardeners’. Each of these visionary speakers will share their insights on creating a more sustainable and equitable fashion system – one that respects the land, the makers, and the future of our planet.
Festival founder Mareta Doyle believes that: “Once inextricably linked, fashion and farming are part of our domestic and social fabric, but how we farm and how we create fashion are killing us in today’s world.” She describes the festival as a space to explore fresh ideas on sustainable farming, textile innovation, and ancient techniques that hold the key to a better future.
Festival curator Ciara Hunt highlights the urgency of the conversation, emphasising that fashion is one of the most powerful forms of self-expression but also a major contributor to environmental damage, with 73 per cent of materials landfilled or burned and less than one per cent recycled into new clothing. She believes it’s time to rethink the way we create and consume fashion.
From insightful panels to hands-on demonstrations, the ‘Fashion and Farming Festival 2025’ is set to be a landmark event for anyone passionate about sustainability, creativity, and meaningful change. Whether you’re a designer, farmer, entrepreneur, or conscious consumer, this festival offers a space to connect, learn, and be inspired. Mark your calendar for May 10-11, 2025, and experience firsthand how fashion and farming can come together to shape a greener, more thoughtful future. Visit www.fashionandfarming.com for tickets and more information.
