Eileen Barry believes that great style is more than self-expression; it can serve a practical purpose. While growing up in Birmingham, she noticed what others wore on a regular basis: her friends’ moms, older kids at school, and the models on the pages of fashion magazines. While it didn’t take long for Eileen to understand how clothing displayed people’s personalities, a new epiphany struck her at Indian Springs High School when she enrolled in art classes. “I learned about sculpture, and I realized how fashion and sculpture are related,” she says. “You’re creating shapes in space.”
After graduation, Eileen chose to pursue the sartorial arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design. From the beginning, her gut told her that SCAD was the place for her skills to flourish, and a tour of the campus solidified the decision to relocate to beautiful Savannah, Georgia. Eileen’s family encouraged her to pursue her talents, and their support, paired with Eileen’s vision, has paid off.
In May, Eileen’s Senior collection debuted at the SCAD Fashion 2024 runway show, and photos of the collection were featured in Vogue. The garments depict Eileen’s philosophy as a designer– that clothing should be protective and well-suited to the day’s tasks but should also look stylish. According to the designer, many familiar aspects of fashion— think pockets, zippers, and materials to wick away moisture–align with specific human roles in history.
“Where we are now is based on the history of clothing,” Eileen points out. “I think fashion is cyclical because we’re inspired by the past, as we always have been. However, we always have a reinterpretation of the past, so it’s not exactly the same. Whatever we take from the previous culture, we interpret it differently for our lives today.”
In the recent runway show hosted by SCAD, Eileen’s garments contain waterproof and antimicrobial materials to protect from the rising waters of urban floods, a common part of climate change. With a nod to her love of a menswear look, Eileen has crafted pieces meant to serve as a protective layer from unexpected events in nature.
“I see the future of fashion having a lot of outerwear: garments that work for rain, storms, and UV rays,” she says. “Fashion will reflect the weather changes we go through as a people.”
As a designer and consumer, Eileen firmly believes in investing in pieces that last, eschewing the “fast fashion” movement. Not only is this practice better for the environment since it produces less waste, she explains, it’s actually better for your wallet if you look at your long-term budget. Eileen points out that many high-end labels in Europe are taking strides in the direction of sustainability, such as using natural dyes and recycling certain items. “With my work, I’m focused on protecting people with long-lasting pieces,” she says. “You can buy fewer pieces and use the clothing for multiple purposes.”
Now back home in Birmingham following graduation from SCAD and looking forward to embarking on her career, Eileen’s wardrobe is based on daily activities, whether hiking Red Mountain, running errands, or relaxing with friends. She points out that Birmingham, like most cities, does not have a singular style but more of a variety of fashion subcultures. “We have an urban style that is classy and sporty because people here are involved in hiking or tennis or something similar – we’re outdoorsy,” she says. “But then you also have punk people! There’s a range of people and personalities here.”
Even between her collegiate years and the launch of her professional years, Eileen is gathering inspiration for her next collection. Rather than typical celebrity style icons, however, she looks to the everyday residents of the Magic City (or of Savannah or Tybee Island or wherever she happens to be) to see how real people dress for real life.
“I’m inspired by my friends,” she says. “Also explorers, skateboarders, and musicians in the punk community. I’m inspired by the freedom of expression.”