Profile: Evan O'Toole – Only Natural Design Competitions

Evan O'Toole

National College of Art and Design

I am a student in my final year of BA Fashion Design at The National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland. I am born and raised in Dublin and I'm 22 years old. I have always had a love for fashion since I was very young. My work in the last year or two has been based on Irish history with emphasis on the oppression Ireland faced for 800 years. I have a strong commitment to using 100% natural materials in my work, replacing synthetic fibres with natural alternatives even in the smallest of details such as thread and trimmings. Sustainability plays a huge role in my designs and thinking, I believe that by giving myself the restrictions of only working with natural fibres that my designs have become more interesting and thought out. The majority of my work is based on male sizing but I see myself as a unisex designers. I have deep interest in textiles especially in vintage fabric. I really enjoy beautifully finished clothes with interesting linings, clean finishes and ornate handwork. Some of my favourite designers include John Alexander Skelton and Oliver Church, I enjoy their designs as they always have a sustainable focus and rarely work to the regular fashion calendar but rather present and sell when their garments are 100% ready. I hope that in the future I can work with a similar ethos.

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For The Wounded

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2026

For the Wounded is a menswear collection that explores themes of resilience, identity, and historical trauma through a sustainable design lens. Rooted in Ireland’s experience of oppression, the collection draws primary inspiration from the Great Hunger and the Easter Rising, two pivotal moments that continue to shape the nation’s cultural memory. Sustainability is central to the design process, with a commitment to using exclusively natural materials. All garments are constructed from 100% natural fabrics and trimmings, incorporating vintage textiles where possible, and finished with cotton thread to ensure material integrity and environmental responsibility. Under the Hawthorn Tree, a novel by Maritha Conlon-McKenna, depicting survival during the Great Famine, is widely studied by children aged 10–11 in schools across Ireland. Its narrative has had a profound and lasting impact on many young people, including myself. Key moments from the text are reflected throughout this collection, alongside subtle references to wider Irish history. Research visits to Collins Barracks, the National Museum of Ireland, and Kilmainham Gaol have significantly informed this work, influencing both its silhouettes and finer details. These institutions provided valuable primary sources, which have been carefully explored and interpreted within the collection. For the Wounded speaks to underrepresented and oppressed communities who continue to strive for visibility, voice, and freedom