Ireland's Fashion Icon Passes Away at 80
Paul Costelloe, a trailblazing Irish fashion designer, has left an indelible mark on the industry with a career spanning over four decades. The native Dubliner learned the art of fashion in Paris, Milan and New York before returning to Ireland to bring about a renaissance in the country's textile scene.
Costelloe's love for linen was evident from his early days as a migrant in Europe, where he discovered its unique qualities that would eventually become the backbone of his design philosophy. As synthetics lost appeal due to the oil price shock, Costelloe and Ireland rediscovered the value of natural fibers, with linen becoming an essential resource.
Through his eponymous label, Paul Costelloe sustained profitability for 47 years, designing for it until its latest collection in October 2025, which marked the inaugural Irish fashion week. Over that period, Ireland transitioned from relative poverty and isolation to a thriving European country.
Costelloe's journey began as an apprentice to his father, who had a gift for cloth, and he could discern even the smallest percentage of polyester in a woven cotton fabric by touch. The designer left Blackrock college at 16 without any formal education but was accepted into the Grafton Academy of Fashion Design in Dublin.
He worked for various influential brands, including Marks & Spencer and La Rinascente, before moving to New York in 1974 to work in the massive mass-produced garment trade. Costelloe's big break came when Anne Fogarty saw one of his designs on a railway platform in Ireland, leading him to marry the woman who became an integral part of his life.
Throughout his career, Costelloe received recognition for his contributions to Irish fashion, but he often felt frustrated by the lack of investment that hindered his ability to grow his label. Nevertheless, his dedication and perseverance paid off, as he built a successful family business with his wife Anne Connor and seven children, many of whom worked in or with the firm.
Costelloe's designs were characterized by their discipline, elegance, and attention to detail, often incorporating traditional Irish textiles such as linen and wool. His ability to balance realism and grandeur was evident in both his daywear and evening wear collections.
Paul Costelloe, a trailblazing Irish fashion designer, has left an indelible mark on the industry with a career spanning over four decades. The native Dubliner learned the art of fashion in Paris, Milan and New York before returning to Ireland to bring about a renaissance in the country's textile scene.
Costelloe's love for linen was evident from his early days as a migrant in Europe, where he discovered its unique qualities that would eventually become the backbone of his design philosophy. As synthetics lost appeal due to the oil price shock, Costelloe and Ireland rediscovered the value of natural fibers, with linen becoming an essential resource.
Through his eponymous label, Paul Costelloe sustained profitability for 47 years, designing for it until its latest collection in October 2025, which marked the inaugural Irish fashion week. Over that period, Ireland transitioned from relative poverty and isolation to a thriving European country.
Costelloe's journey began as an apprentice to his father, who had a gift for cloth, and he could discern even the smallest percentage of polyester in a woven cotton fabric by touch. The designer left Blackrock college at 16 without any formal education but was accepted into the Grafton Academy of Fashion Design in Dublin.
He worked for various influential brands, including Marks & Spencer and La Rinascente, before moving to New York in 1974 to work in the massive mass-produced garment trade. Costelloe's big break came when Anne Fogarty saw one of his designs on a railway platform in Ireland, leading him to marry the woman who became an integral part of his life.
Throughout his career, Costelloe received recognition for his contributions to Irish fashion, but he often felt frustrated by the lack of investment that hindered his ability to grow his label. Nevertheless, his dedication and perseverance paid off, as he built a successful family business with his wife Anne Connor and seven children, many of whom worked in or with the firm.
Costelloe's designs were characterized by their discipline, elegance, and attention to detail, often incorporating traditional Irish textiles such as linen and wool. His ability to balance realism and grandeur was evident in both his daywear and evening wear collections.
! WHAT A LEGACY HE LEAVES BEHIND!!! HE WAS TRULY A GENIUS IN THE FASHION WORLD AND HIS contributions to IRELAND'S TEXTILE SCENE CANT BE UNDERESTIMATED!! HE TAUGHT US ALL ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL FIBERS LIKE LINEN & HOW IT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES!!! RIP PAUL, YOU WILL BE MISSED BY MANY 
. That's old school, you know? Like, I remember listenin' to my parents talk about the Irish fashion scene goin' back to its roots with him comin' along. He was like a trailblazer, bringin' linen and traditional textiles back into play. And it's wild to think that his designs were influenced by his dad's cloth shop – I mean, who knew growin' up with fabric scraps could be so deep? 
Anyway, 47 years runnin' his own label? That's some serious dedication. He left a mark on Irish fashion and beyond... RIP Paul 
I'm a bit sad that the fashion world is already hailing Paul Costelloe as an icon... it feels like he's being put on a pedestal way too soon 
. I mean, 47 years of sustainability? That's impressive, but it's also kinda late to the party 
. And don't even get me started on the whole "Irish fashion week" thing... does that just mean people are gonna be dressing up for a photo shoot now instead of actually supporting local designers? 
he was literally irish fashion icon 4eva 
! i thot he was still alive lol idk wut i'll do 4mornin 
but seriously, his legacy lives thru his kids & wife anne (whom i just looked up n he actually got married to anne fogarty lol 
he brought so much life 2 the fashion scene in ireland & beyond 
u can tlk about his career spannin over 40 yrs 
. He started out as some young kid learning fashion from his dad in Dublin and then went on to work with big brands like Marks & Spencer 
! That's dedication, you know? And I love how he brought linen back into fashion after everyone thought synthetics were the way to go 
...
And can you believe Ireland went from being relatively poor to a thriving European country because of his efforts? That's insane! 
What's even more impressive is that he did it all without formal education 
He was totally self-taught, which I think is super inspiring. Anyway, I'm gonna miss seeing what he comes up with next 
Rest in peace, Paul! 
paul costelloe was a legend! his legacy will live on thru the many talented designers he inspired in ireland 
& can u believe he built his label from scratch with zero formal ed? that's some next level hustle 
anyway, we gotta give it up for this Irish icon 
i remember learning about him in my textiles class at school and how he brought back irish linen to the forefront of fashion 
his story is so inspiring, going from being an apprentice to building a successful label with his wife and 7 kids... it's like a rags-to-riches tale 
i wish more ppl knew about him, he was such a trailblazer for irish fashion 
Ireland will miss him but we can take comfort in knowing that his designs will live on through his incredible family 
His love for linen was inspiring & helped bring natural fibers back to the forefront 
47 years of sustaining profitability is no small feat 
Rest in peace Paul, your contributions to Irish fashion will never be forgotten 
just heard about Paul Costelloe's passing... what a legend in the fashion world! I mean, 47 years with the same label? That's crazy 
He really put Ireland on the map with Irish fashion week and all that. I'm not surprised he felt frustrated though, it's tough to get investors to take risks on small businesses. But still, his dedication paid off and he built a successful empire 
His designs were so elegant and detailed, I loved how he mixed traditional Irish textiles with modern styles 
. I remember when i first heard of him in the early 90s, he was already making waves in the fashion world. and his love for linen is still so admirable, especially during those synthetics days 
. his legacy will live on, though - i'm sure his family and loved ones will keep his designs alive for generations to come 
. Anyway, RIP Paul 
... his legacy will live on in the fashion world forever 