Melissa Curry is one of Ireland's most exciting designers, celebrated internationally for her thought provoking designs and experiences. Melissa was born in Sligo and had her formal education in Dublin. At 17, she packed her bags and went to Paris to pursue her dreams as a creative, first perfecting her French at the Sorbonne and later studying Visual Communication at the Académie Charpentier. After extensive travelling in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Melissa turned her love of colour and celebration to the finer details in life, leading her to jewellery and accessory designing. Melissa worked her way up the fast-paced fashion industry, launching her first collection in L'Eclaireur Paris in 1997. Her debut at Paris Fashion Week saw Melissa’s thought-provoking and fresh approach to design catching on.
Liberty of London picked Melissa Curry up shortly after her debut, choosing her to spearhead their Millennium Advertising campaign, catapulting her work across the globe. Her name and distinct brand immediately made an impact and became a much sought-after label, landing in global boutiques in New York, Japan, Paris (Le Bon Marche, Galeries Lafayette) and London. Melissa’s regenerative vision and powerful design brought collaborations with leading brand names such as Absolut, Swarovski, Toni & Guy, Conran and Philippe Starck, all of whom commissioned her to collaborate on one-off projects with her fresh and exciting concepts, narrative and visionary drive.
Melissa’s bold, versatile and impactful pieces have resonated with celebrities and aristocracy, from Ru Paul and Michelle Visage to Michelle Obama and the royals. A recent two-page spread in the Irish Times offers an insight into Melissa’s latest partnership with Richard Branson on her collaboration with Virgin Voyages. Being one of only a limited number of designers kept on following the COVID-19 pandemic, her DJ Voom collection (built for the sailors aboard Virgin’s Scarlet Lady cruise ship), WARRIOR and SUCCESS ranges have been a hit with customers and shipmates alike. The brand-new Ibiza beachwear Fuego collection launches this March on Virgin’s newest ship: Valient.
Melissa’s versatility is reflected through her award-winning lifestyle and gift ranges. PÓG is an exciting, tactile and conscious range, drawn from the essence of the Claddagh and offering a contemporary symbol for the Irish gift market and global diaspora. PÓG’s fun and colourful gifting solution has already proven to be a hit, debuting with Aer Lingus and featuring on RTE News and Ireland AM. The brand was chosen by Bradley: The Brand Agency for their Makers to Masters campaign, as well as being nominated as a finalist in the DFNI Global Awards for Innovation and Sustainable Practices.
