“They are not in a costume. They are not dressed as dolls, they are Lolitas.”
Living Lolita explores the world of the unique fashion sub-culture that found its way from Japan to a group of young women in Ireland.”
The Irish Gothic Lolita Community are a group of women based all over Ireland who dress in an elaborate renaissance inspired style that originated in Japan, some wearing it every day “to the shops for a jug of milk.”
To the Lolitas, this is more than just clothes, but a movement; “we wear these clothes because they are feminine, they are not sexual, they are not for anyone else’s gaze – it is something for me”.
Coming from all corners of Ireland, the group meet once a month and are grateful to have found each other; “meeting so many like-minded people has allowed myself be me”.
Despite dealing with unwanted attention from on-lookers and the common misconceptions surrounding their controversial name, the Lolita movement is about empowerment, belonging and most of all friendship.