Small silk twill square (49cm approx)
 
Wear as a neckerchief, bandana, headscarf, around a ponytail, tied around a bag strap, sewed onto the back of a jacket, as a pocket square. 
 
Embroidered Patch (15x10cm)
 
Sew onto the arm of a jacket, a fabric bag, the arse pocket of jeans.
 
Badges (3.8cm) 
 
Wear on a lapel, a fabric bag, a tshirt. 
 
 
When I was in my teens and twenties I spent a lot of time making and customizing my clothes.. I was a goth, then a punk and the kind of clothes I wanted weren’t readily available. One of my favourite ways to customize garments was with badges and patches. Online shopping wasn’t a thing back then so I’d pick up bits in Temple Bar, Camden Market or from the merch stalls at gigs.. patches emblazoned with my favourite bands, political and social slogans. Most of the patches and badges would go on my denim jacket, often worn under my leather jacket. But also on mini skirts, woven bags, the arse of jeans. 
 
I found my really old denim jacket last year and remembered how much I loved it, and decided I’d love a bit of Éadach on my current denim jacket. So I created the Customisation Kit based on the Children of Lir artwork. With us all striving to be more sustainable customizing something already in our wardrobe is a perfect way to lend a new lease of life to an old favourite. 
 
One of the first Irish myths that really stuck in my head was the story of The Children of Lir.  Maybe because it was about swans, and I was obsessed with ballet and Swan Lake, or maybe because part of it was reputed to have taken place not far from where I grew up, on the north coast of Ireland.  The area around Ballycastle, Kinbane Castle and Rathlin Island have strong connections with this legend, indeed there are many pieces of public art in this area which pay homage to the story.
 
Many years ago, in Ancient Ireland, there lived a ruler and king of the sea, called Lir.  He had a beautiful wife, Eva, and four children..  Aodh, Fionnula, Fiachra and Conn.  When the children were young Eva died and Lir, wanting his children to have a mother, married her sister Aoife who was said to have magical powers.  After a while Aoife became jealous of the King’s love for the children and turned them into swans for nine hundred years, including three hundred on the straits of Moyle (the sea that surrounds Ballycastle) ‘Out with you upon the wild waves!’ The spell was eventually broken by a bell heralding 
St Patrick’s arrival to Ireland.
 
Please note that due to the nature of silk and with the scarves being printed in small batches that colours can vary slightly, although we try our best to ensure continuity. Due to this and computer/ phone screen settings the colours can look a little different to above.