Studio Donegal
Studio Donegal is an Irish handweaving mill founded in 1979 by the Donaghy family in Kilcar, County Donegal. It makes handwoven tweed cloth along with jackets, caps, scarves and blankets.
| Founded | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Donaghy family |
| Location | Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Output | About 10,000 metres of cloth a year |
| Website | studiodonegal.ie |
What is Studio Donegal?
Studio Donegal, full name Studio Donegal Spinners and Handweavers, is a tweed mill in the village of Kilcar in County Donegal, in north-west Ireland. It was founded in 1979 by the Donaghy family and is run by Tristan Donaghy, whose father Kevin returned to Donegal after years working in English textiles.
Products and positioning
The mill revived hand-looming, a craft that had died out in the area, and describes itself as the standard for handwoven tweed. It employs around 15 people and produces roughly 10,000 metres of cloth a year, mostly from merino or crossbred wool sourced from Australia and South America. Some special pieces use handspun yarn.
- Handwoven tweed cloth
- Tweed jackets
- Caps and scarves
- Blankets and throws
Distribution
Studio Donegal sells through a small gallery shop at the mill, where visitors can watch weaving, as well as online and to buyers abroad, including customers in Germany and Japan.
Why it matters
Studio Donegal keeps a traditional Irish textile craft in commercial production, an example of heritage cloth making that serves both finished-product shoppers and international buyers of tweed.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Studio Donegal?
Studio Donegal is based in the village of Kilcar in County Donegal, north-west Ireland.
What does Studio Donegal make?
Studio Donegal weaves tweed by hand and makes tweed jackets, caps, scarves and blankets.