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Posted: Wed 22nd Jul 2026
7 min read
After more than 25 years designing for some of Ireland’s best-known fashion labels, Ber McNamara reached a turning point.
She had spent decades creating collections for other designers, but the pieces she really wanted to make – timeless, elegant garments designed around real women’s lives – weren’t making it to the shop floor.
So in 2022, she launched Ber McNamara Designs, a luxury womenswear label that combines traditional tailoring with modern functionality.
Every garment is designed to last, crafted using locally sourced Irish fabrics wherever possible and created with one goal in mind: helping women feel confident, comfortable and completely themselves.
Fashion has always been part of Ber’s life.
Rather than taking the traditional university route, she learnt her craft in designer manufacturing, working on high-end garments and mastering techniques that only years of hands-on experience can teach. Looking back, she credits those early years with shaping the designer she is today.
She explains:
“I learnt my trade in the factory. The classical techniques never date.”
That appreciation for craftsmanship remains at the heart of her business. Inspired by timeless silhouettes rather than fast-moving trends, Ber creates pieces that women can wear season after season.
“I always think about the woman standing in front of her wardrobe, wondering what she’s going to wear. I want her to be able to pick something up without overthinking it.”
Instead of designing statement pieces that only work once, Ber focuses on capsule wardrobes: beautifully cut blouses, structured blazers and elegant trousers that work together effortlessly.
Launching her own label wasn’t simply about creative freedom.
Ber had noticed more and more women becoming frustrated with what was available on the high street. Customers would tell her they couldn’t find clothes that fitted properly or reflected their personal style.
“There was a gap in the market,” she says. “Women were saying they couldn’t find the pieces they wanted anymore.”
Rather than chasing seasonal trends, Ber decided to build a business around longevity.
Her collections are deliberately timeless, with flattering cuts, carefully chosen colours, and premium fabrics designed to stay in wardrobes for years rather than months.
That philosophy has become even more relevant as shoppers increasingly look beyond fast fashion and invest in fewer, better-quality pieces.
While Ber also sells ready-to-wear collections through selected boutiques, bespoke commissions have become the heart of her business.
Each project begins with a private consultation where she gets to know the client, discussing colours, fabrics, lifestyle and how they want to feel in the finished garment. Only then does the design process begin.
From initial sketches and sample fittings to multiple refinements, every detail is carefully considered. A bespoke commission typically takes around 10 to 12 weeks, allowing time to perfect the fit while keeping fabric waste to a minimum.
“I don’t just throw something together,” Ber explains. “Everything is intentional.”
It’s this collaborative process that often creates the biggest transformation.
Whether she’s designing for a mother of the bride, a professional woman or someone marking a special occasion, her aim is always the same: to create clothing that enhances confidence rather than disguises it.
“When something fits properly, you’re not pulling at it or adjusting it all day. You stand taller, and you feel amazing,” she says.
Building a premium fashion brand hasn’t been without its challenges. Standing out in a crowded market is difficult, particularly when competing against fast fashion retailers offering cheaper alternatives and constant newness.
But Ber has refused to compromise on quality. From sourcing Irish fabrics wherever possible to using traditional construction techniques, every decision reflects her long-term vision for the brand.
“If you buy something from me, it’s going to last,” she says. “It’s designed well, made well, and nobody else is going to have exactly what you have.”
Much of her growth has come through word of mouth, with satisfied customers recommending her to friends and family. For Ber, that’s the strongest endorsement any designer can receive.
Having spent years balancing client work before fully committing to her own brand, Ber understands the realities of starting a business.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is refreshingly practical:
"Research your market thoroughly. Understand what’s missing before trying to solve a problem. Resist the temptation to copy what everyone else is doing.
"Most importantly, don’t expect overnight success.
“It takes time. If you believe you have something that genuinely solves a problem, don’t give up.”
Hard work, patience and consistency have been central to her own journey, and she believes passion is what keeps founders moving through the difficult days.
“If you love what you’re doing, the hours don’t matter," she says. "It will take time, but if you keep believing in what you’re building, people will eventually find you.”
Today, Ber is focused on growing awareness of her ready-to-wear collections while continuing to create bespoke garments that celebrate craftsmanship, confidence and timeless design.
In a world increasingly dominated by disposable fashion, she’s proving there’s still a place for clothing that’s made to last — and for businesses built on quality rather than quantity.
