Simone Rocha

Simone Rocha is an Irish fashion designer who has established a unique and influential voice in contemporary fashion since launching her label in 2010. A graduate of the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and Central Saint Martins, she has consistently garnered critical acclaim, including multiple British Fashion Awards. In 2024, her standing in the industry was further cemented when she served as a guest designer for Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture.

Rocha is known for her ability to create collections that are both deeply personal and commercially successful. Her work often explores themes of heritage, family, and femininity, resulting in a distinctive aesthetic that has won her a dedicated global following and a permanent place on the London Fashion Week schedule.

The exploration of ‘modern femininity’ is conducted through a lens of unsettling beauty, where traditional motifs are systematically subverted. Elements such as pearls, flowers, and lace are central to the aesthetic, yet they are frequently paired with ‘jarring’ materials like Perspex and PVC to create a sense of tension. The work draws heavily on Victorian silhouettes and the voluminous qualities of tulle and macramé, often reflecting the designer’s Irish and Asian heritage.

Silhouettes are typically romantic and expansive, yet they maintain a grounded quality through the use of sturdy footwear and utilitarian details. There is a persistent focus on telling personal and collective stories, where the garments act as vessels for cultural memory and emotion. By balancing delicate, artisanal craftsmanship with unexpected, modern textures, the work achieves a form of femininity that is both nostalgic and assertively contemporary.