About Ruth Griffin
She’s enlivening Dublin’s historic fashion scene.” - IMAGE Magazine
Hello, I’m Ruth, a fashion historian, writer, and broadcaster. I hold an MA in the History and Culture of Fashion from the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, and a BA in Fashion Design from the National College of Art & Design in Dublin. I specialise in Irish fashion history, with over 15 years’ experience researching fashion’s relationship to Dublin and wider Irish cultural history.
Photo credit: Tra My Nguyen Hoang
Talks & Tours
Since 2011, I have run a successful series of fashion history tours around Dublin, taking groups through different city quarters to explore the often-lost history of Irish fashion design, businesses, and style icons, alongside contemporary independent Irish designers and makers. I have also led group tours for major cultural institutions and festivals, including Dublin’s Culture Night, the Dublin Fringe Festival, and the Dublin Festival of History, as well as for leading destinations such as the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Museum of Ireland, the Little Museum of Dublin, the National College of Art & Design, and Trinity College Dublin.
Broadcasting
I’m regularly asked to speak on radio and TV. I was fashion curator for RTÉ’s National Treasures programme which was a travelling roadshow, a digital archive, museum exhibition all folded into a four-part television programme where I revealed the history and the story behind the nation’s most treasured fashion objects. I have also been a contributor to several documentaries from the incredible story of Man on Bridge, The Story & Photos of Arthur Fields by EZ Films to Ciara Nic Chormaic’s TG4 documentary, Snáithe, The Story of Irish Fashion, where I revealed the hidden fashion history behind the streets of the Liberties.
I continue to be a contributor to radio programmes on fashion history speaking on trending topics with contributions ranging from talking about The History of Swimwear on The Ray Darcy Show to writing a short radio piece on the History of the Skirt, for RTÉ Radio 1, The Business Show.
Fashion History Writing
This site began in the age of blogging and developed into a place where I could share my thoughts about fashion history in the city, where it still records stories and findings. I also write for print and online publications from IMAGE Magazine from features like “Tweed’s New Mood” to contributing to RTE.ie on Dublin’s fashion history with features on “The Glamorous History of Dublin’s Lost Department Stores,” and “A Brief History of Dublin’s Seaside Fashions.”
Working at:
Magee 1866
Previously at:
Brown Thomas Arnotts (Selfridges Group)
Liberty London
Matches Fashion
Browns London
Topshop
Featured in:
IMAGE magazine, The Irish Times, Sunday Business Post, The Gloss Magazine
Brands I’ve worked with:
UK: British Vogue, ST Telegraph, Swarovski Crystal, Show Media, Topshop,
Ireland: Brown Thomas Arnotts, Failte Ireland
TV Appearances:
2023
RTÉ The Way We Were, Season 1, The Way We Shopped
Contributor
2018
4 Part Series, Fashion Curator
TG4 Snáithe, The Story of Irish Fashion
Contributor
2017
EX Films/RTÉ Man on Bridge, The Story & Photos of Arthur Fields
Contributor
Radio Appearances:
2024
Grafton Street at Christmas
December, RTÉ Radio 1, The Business Show
2022
A Brief History of Swimwear
May, RTÉ Radio 1, The Ray Darcy Show
2022
History of Male Grooming
October, RTÉ Radio 1, The Business Show
2015
RTÉ Radio 1, The Business Show
Writing/Print:
2023
IMAGE Magazine, Spring Issue
Writing/Online:
RTÉ
The Glamorous History of Dublin’s Lost Department Stores
RTÉ
A Brief History of Dublin's Seaside Fashions
RTÉ
National Treasures- Ireland’s Style History
Festivals & Talks
2019
Fabric & Fashion, From Silk Weaving to Singer, talk on Dublin Fashion & The City, at the City Assembly House
The Wilde’s & Dress Reform, tour with Professor Christine Kinealy, Director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute, Quinnipiac University, Connecticut
2018
National Treasures, National Museum of Ireland, Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar
Lecture on what fashion objects tell us about our history?
Trinity HistoryCon, Dressing History, Trinity College Dublin
Panel discussion with costume designer Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh on the relationship between the study of history and popular media
2015
Culture Night Dublin
Fashion tour of Dublin by horse and carriage
Christmas on the Square, Merrion Square
Fashion tour & talk in the Royal Society of Antiquaries at 6 Merrion Square
2013
The Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin
Retrocycle assembled a team of fashion fans and experts to deconstruct what constitutes a retro fashion, the historical moments that shaped it. Hosted by stylist and broadcaster Darren Kennedy and featuring a panel that included myself, and NUI Maynooth anthropologist Pauline Garvey.
2011
Dublin Fringe Festival
Series of talks and tours
The Lost Fashion History of South William Street, curated and produced an event for Dublin’s Fringe festival which included a series of talks, tours and workshops celebrating the lost fashion businesses and skills which were once happening on South William Street - Dublin’s original garment district.
Education:
UAL, London College of Fashion, MA History & Culture of Fashion
NCAD, BA Fashion & Textile Design
Gaiety School of Acting
Lir Theatre
Explore my content
-
Broadcasting
-
Fashion History
-
Talks & Tours
