Series 2, Episode 1 of 6 Millinery
The Millinery episode will see Mentor Linda McKay give a six day master class in bespoke hat making to three millinery apprentices- Antoinette O’Mahony, a busy mum of two whose ambition is to further develop a home business making hats, wedding hair stylist of the year, Pat O’Neill and Kinsale based Claire Hurley a graduate of Limerick College of Art and Design and working as a fashion designer, up-cycling fabrics into one-off garments that cannot be found on the main street.
The three apprentices are tasked with producing three individual hats in the Thomastown Studio that will appeal to three diverse target markets. The task will push all three apprentices to overcome hurdles while experiencing a buzz of excitement as the locals marvel at the new milliner’s creations.
With three beautifully designed millinery craft pieces showcasing the talent and creativity of each apprentice, who will be selected to appear in the final of Craftmaster 2? Finalists will compete for the title and the opportunity to kick-start a whole new career in craft with a stand at Showcase Expo, Ireland’s international trade expo run by the Crafts Council of Ireland. Deciding who wins is a panel led by Sonya Lennon, who is joined by resident Judge, Brian McGee, from the Crafts Council of Ireland along with two of Ireland’s top designers, Paul Costelloe and Louise Kennedy.
Series Overview:
Craft Master – the search for Ireland’s newest craft talent – returns for a second series, presented by style icon, Sonya Lennon.
During the six-part series, 15 apprentices who are passionate about making, compete to produce a unique piece of work that will see them represent their chosen craft discipline from the fields of knitting, jewellery, furniture, basketry and millinery.
The apprentices come from all over the country and from varying backgrounds; they include a part-time farmer, an acupuncturist, an OPW tour guide and a very entertaining hairdresser. Each week, three apprentices are mentored by a professional craftsperson to design and produce their piece within the chosen discipline and only the very best will secure a place in the final (episode 6) when the overall winner will be named.
The winner of Craft Master Series 2 gets the opportunity to kick-start a career in craft by receiving a stand at the largest international trade fair in the country, Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo, which is run by the Crafts Council of Ireland and promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland.
Deciding who wins is a panel led by designer, stylist and TV presenter Sonya Lennon, who is joined by resident judge, Brian McGee, Head of Market Development at the Crafts Council of Ireland, along with two of Ireland’s top designers, Paul Costelloe and Louise Kennedy.
Craft Master celebrates the very best of Irish design and craftsmanship in a hugely entertaining format. The show is produced by Big Mountain Productions in collaboration with the Crafts Council of Ireland and with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and RTÉ.
This latest series of Craft Master is a follow up to the hugely popular series 1 which was commissioned to coincide with Year of Craft 2011 as part of the celebrations of craft throughout the island of Ireland that year.