RDS Branchardière Lace Bursary
The Branchardière Lace Bursary funded by the RDS, supports innovation in contemporary lace making and craft. The RDS is continuing its strong support for Irish craft with the bursary designed to support aspiring individuals, ensuring the continuation of the tradition of excellence in lace craftsmanship.
The purpose of the RDS Branchardière Lace Bursary, which is valued at €2,000, is to provide support to contemporary Irish lacemakers. The lacemaking tradition is very strong in Ireland, and in recent years, knitting, crochet and needlework has undergone a revival.
2024 RDS Branchardière Lace Bursary Winner - Olwen Bourke
Olwen says that she is "continuously inspired by flowers and leaves, and the coastal Irish landscape where I grew up. All of my collections are made from earth friendly, biodegradable fabrics, including handmade lace, upcycled fabrics, Irish linen and ecovero viscose".
Judges for this year’s awards included Camilla Hanney, ceramist and joint winner of RDS Branchardière Lace Bursary in 2022; Dr. Isha Tyagi, Head of Craft & Education at DCCI, and Katharine Maurer, a member of the RDS Arts Committee.
Camilla Hanney, former winner and judge said: “Olwen has found a sustainable way to create beautifully delicate, timeless garments by repurposing Irish lace. She has successfully found a way to celebrate the beauty and history of Irish lace in a contemporary format. Her proposal actively promotes and sheds light on the toil of Irish lacemakers. Olwen’s work demonstrates her dedication to the craft of Irish lace. I am very excited to see what her future career holds.”
Olwen’s work takes inspiration from Irish fashion designers including Sybil Connolly and how she transformed traditional Irish lace into high fashion. The aim of Olwen’s work is to highlight the beauty of Irish lace, to push the boundaries of lace techniques in fresh and exciting ways, to create a demand, a revival and employment for lace making, and to show its huge relevance for today's fashion market. Olwen is currently working on a new collection of bridal and eveningwear to show how Irish lace can be used in modern and relevant ways for the 21st century by combining antique Irish lace with new Irish lace embellishments. She is also working on a new collection of shirts, made from both Irish linen and Irish lace.
Commenting on being the 2024 recipient, Olwen Bourke said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be awarded the RDS Branchardière Lace Bursary. I’m passionate about shining a light on Irish lace, and this award will help me towards my goal of reviving traditional Irish lacemaking techniques for the contemporary bridal and fashion market. I believe that Irish lace is a highly skilled, beautiful art form, steeped in history, that should be protected for future generations, utilised by our fashion industry, and promoted internationally. Thank you to DCCI and the RDS for your encouragement and support.”
The lace bursary is named after Eleonore Riego de la Branchardière. Renowned for her 72 ground-breaking books on needlecraft, Eleonore played a pivotal role in revolutionising the global lace industry and exerted a significant influence on Victorian-era fashion. her father from France — Eleonore seamlessly integrated the cultural richness of both backgrounds, facilitating her effortless assimilation into Victorian society. She became a needlework star, and her patterns were used by Irish women to create the in-demand fashion for English ladies. The RDS Branchardière Lace Bursary, in recognition of Eleonore's contributions, aims to celebrate the spirit of innovation and resilience in the field of needlework.