It was the ‘Magic Trouser’ that gave Peruzzi its big break. With its core elements of comfort and fit, the Irish brand began with a capsule collection back in 1999.
The Irish brand exported long before that. It’s now available in Europe, the US, and Canada, after almost 25 years.
The SS23 collection of the brand was created with an international audience in mind.
“We wanted an injection of colour and vitality with our latest collection,” says Sinéad Robinson, Peruzzi’s designer. “We were thinking of getting on a plane and flying away. The attitude towards fashion has changed. It’s no longer style at any cost. Women want style that doesn’t restrict them; the tolerance for discomfort is gone.”
For garments that are fluid and move with your body while still maintaining their shape, you should use quality raw material like Italian linen and soft cotton.
“You want to look feminine yet strong; you want to be playful, yet serious. That’s the beauty of this collection. It has clothes for whatever way you feel.” And while inclusivity has been the watchword in fashion in recent years, Peruzzi has always offered ranges from sizes eight to 20. The staff has remained loyal, despite the tough economic times. “Nobody retires,” laughs Marc O’Rourke, sales director. “We have one employee named Florrie, she’s 60 and works part-time. She started on her 14th birthday.”
“It’s like we’re a family. Everyone works really well together, there’s no egos,” says Linda McDermott, manager of Peruzzi. “When you lose the ego, we can hear each other properly, and when that happens, it’s pure magic.”
Video of the Day
Robinson adds, “You need to be open to creative collaboration. Everybody has something to contribute.”
As we wrap up our chat, the team remembers their late sales director colleague, Sean O’Leary. “He was at the very beginning of the journey with us. He would love to be here,” says O’Rourke. “We have his beat-up Louis Vuitton bag and Mont Blanc pen that always travels with us.” It’s clear that once you join the Peruzzi family you stay in their hearts.
“Whenever we go to Italy, the first thing we do is drink red wine, and have a toast to Sean.” No sooner than McDermott tells me this we raise our glasses of water to the memory of their mentor.
Peruzzi can be purchased at choiceboutiques.com or stockists across the country.