Plans are being announced in the Capital today for Ireland’s first National Tailoring Academy, which is being established with the support of Louis Copeland & Sons. It will be the only programme of its kind in the country, with an overall investment of €250,000 planned for the academy. 

Striving to become a “centre of excellence in tailoring skills, education and best practice,” the National Tailoring Academy will offer a varied programme of workshops and postgraduate diploma courses in bespoke fashion tailoring. Specialist tailoring machinery, unique to the academy and involving an investment of €60,000, will offer students the opportunity to train on the same equipment used by international bespoke tailoring manufacturing companies.

Taught by international Master Tailors and industry professionals, the prestigious one year Continuous Professional Development (C.P.D.) Diploma in Fashion Tailoring starts in September. The Dublin Institute of Technology (D.I.T) is the awarding body for the full-time diploma course, which includes a study visit to tailoring facilities in Europe.

Enrolment for the National Tailoring Academy starts this month for graduates and designers working in fashion or tailoring, with just twelve places available initially. The academy is the brain-child of Louis Copeland & Sons, which has been to the fore of menswear retailing and custom tailoring since the early 1900s. Aiming to foster, preserve and encourage craftsmanship in fashion tailoring for future generations, Louis and Adrian Copeland were keen to lend their name and support to the project from the outset.

“The Louis Copeland & Son name has been synonymous with fine tailored clothing in Ireland for four generations and the company is now eager to develop and support the country’s first National Tailoring Academy, re-kindling interest in this craft,” said Louis Copeland, speaking at today’s announcement. “Working in partnership with the Dublin Institute of Technology as the awarding body, the academy is on course to become Ireland’s centre of excellence for those pursuing a career in fashion tailoring, to the highest international standards,” he added.

Adrian Copeland said: “To help nurture new talent and protect tailoring’s heritage, the academy has fostered strategic partnerships with some of the world’s most renowned names in fashion, such as Kiton, Brioni and Canali. The talented team of Master Tailors and tutors will be teaching in a purpose built tailoring workshop in the city centre, passing on their hand-crafted techniques, skills and traditions to the next generation of aspiring tailors.”

John Jameson, Head of School, Retail and Services Management, DIT College of Business said: "The Dublin Institute of Technology is delighted to be working alongside the National Tailoring Academy in supporting and developing tailoring skills in Ireland.  This one year course will complement and support higher learning and meet the growing demand for bespoke tailoring skills in Ireland, creating a platform for Ireland's emerging tailors and fashion designers on the international stage."

The academy is headquartered on Great Strand Street, just behind Dublin’s Morrison Hotel. After refurbishment, the academy opens its doors in late August with the Diploma Course welcoming its first group of students on September 16th.

Further information about the full-time and part-time courses on offer at the National Tailoring Academy at Louis Copeland can be found at www.nationaltailoringacademy.ie or by e-mailing info@nationaltailoringacademy.ie.

The one year CPD Post Graduate Diploma is open to Fashion Design graduates and to designers or technicians working in the fashion manufacturing sector, with at least five years’ experience.  Meanwhile, the five day hand-tailoring skills workshops run weekly from July 1^st.