NORTHERN THREADS BRINGS SUMMER STYLE TO TITANIC BELFAST

Titanic Belfast has launched a new summer exhibition, bringing together some of the most exciting local designers to showcase how fashion and textile design can be bold, expressive and deeply connected to Northern Ireland.

Titanic Belfast Curates…Northern Threads is a free, ticketed exhibition running from 1^st May to 30^th September. At its heart are four designers, Gráinne Maher, Hope Macaulay, Kindred of Ireland by Amy Anderson and Éadach by Sara O’Neill.

Each brings a distinctive approach, spanning sculptural knitwear, contemporary linen, narrative textiles and handcrafted accessories. Together, their work reflects a creative scene that is confident, evolving and increasingly visible on a global stage, while remaining grounded in Northern Ireland’s landscape, culture and craft traditions.

Woven throughout the exhibition are threads of Northern Ireland’s rich textile heritage, offering context to the materials and influences that continue to shape design today.

Also featured within the exhibition space will be Una Rodden, along with her Tribe collective who will be designers-in-residence, as well as the innovative Threadlab research piece from Ulster University lecturers Dean Liggett and Grainne Taylor.

Judith Owens MBE, CEO of Titanic Belfast said,

“We are immensely proud to unveil our first exhibition under the Titanic Belfast Curates... banner – an initiative shaped and delivered by our own team, whose passion and expertise bring a distinctive perspective to the storytelling. Northern Threads invites visitors to engage with the creativity emerging from Northern Ireland today, highlighting how a deep-rooted sense of place continues to inform and inspire contemporary design.

It is a privilege to collaborate with local designers Gráinne, Hope, Amy and Sara, each of whom is making a significant impact on the global fashion stage. As we broaden our offering, particularly during the vibrant summer season, we remain committed not only to enriching the visitor experience at Titanic Belfast, but also to enhancing Belfast’s appeal as a destination in its own right. With this free exhibition we believe we are delivering meaningfully on that ambition.”

About the designers…

Sara O’Neill, founder of Éadach, uses fashion as a form of storytelling. Raised in Portrush, her work is inspired by music, subculture, mythology and coastal landscapes, creating hand-drawn prints on silk, linen and natural fibres, bringing Irish stories to a global audience.

Amy Anderson founded Kindred of Ireland after discovering a photo of her grandmother spinning linen in a mill in Moygashel, inspiring a reconnection with lost textile traditions. The brand reimagines Irish linen for a modern wardrobe, working with family-run mills and local seamstresses.

Gráinne Maher is a Belfast-born designer known for combining traditional craftsmanship with a rebellious, avant-garde style. She moved from music into millinery, creating bold contemporary headpieces that challenge traditional occasion wear and has expanded into leather goods.

Hope Macaulay creates bold, colourful, sculptural knitwear inspired by the landscapes of Northern Ireland’s North Coast. Taught to knit by her grandmother, she has built her globally recognised, family-run label. Her pieces celebrate craftsmanship, community and the reinvention of tradition.

To complement the exhibition, Titanic Belfast will see the addition of Eimear Magee’s Singing Threads into the Grand Atrium. A large-scale textile installation exploring the human stories embedded within Ulster’s linen industry.

This year, Titanic Belfast will host Ulster University’s Belfast School of Art Graduate Fashion Show on Thursday 28^th May as well as Titanic Pre-Loved x Cathy Martin on 7^th June and a Fashion Tea hosted by Eddie Shanahan, Council of Irish Fashion Designers, during the run of the exhibition.

For further information on Titanic Belfast Curates… Northern Threads and to book your free tickets online here.