River Island and NCAD Announce Fashion Design Bursary Winner 2025
NCAD student Clodagh Leavy wins 2025 River Island Bursary
River Island and NCAD Announce 2025 Fashion Design Bursary Winner
River Island, in collaboration with the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), proudly announces the winner of the 2025 River Island NCAD Fashion Design Bursary.
The recipient of this year’s €3,500 bursary and a three-month paid internship at River Island’s London design studio is Clodagh Leavy, a final-year fashion design student at NCAD.
This year the students were briefed to consider what inspires them, from their favourite moment in fashion history to a particular moment in their life, using these memories to help shape their collections, these unique and personal designs were then submitted to River Island to be judged by their in-house design team.
Clodagh’s winning designs were inspired by her grandmother - a devoted watercolour artist, whose bright personality and creative spirit are captured in her vibrant and bold designs. Drawing from her grandmother’s passion for colour and expressive artistry, Leavy brings a blend of heavy embellishment, hand painting and colour to life.
Featuring voluminous silhouettes, experimental textures, and a striking mix of soft pastels and vivid brights, the carefully crafted pieces aim to evoke a sense of joy and nostalgia in every wearer, celebrating unapologetic self-expression, presenting pieces that feel personal, powerful, and emotionally uplifting.
In a conscious move toward sustainability, Clodagh incorporates high-quality deadstock fabrics and timeless silhouettes, appealing to consumers’ needs for lasting, environmentally aware additions to their wardrobes.
Jade Roberts, Designer Manager at River Island explains, ‘We are now in our 21st year of collaborating with NCAD, the creativity and professionalism of the young creatives just keeps getting more and more exciting every year.
Clodagh’s expressive use of colour , feminine and playful proportions in silhouette and her construction was just a complete work of art, from the level of craft and detail, her knowledge on fabrics and construction was so admirable to see at such an early start of her career. You can tell her heart and soul was put into this collection.’
The annual bursary, which was first launched in 2004, offers NCAD’s final-year fashion design students an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience within River Island’s head office and has proven to be extremely successful for aspiring fashion designers studying at NCAD, with past winners going on to become full time members of River Island’s in-house design team.
Angela O’Kelly, Head of Department of Design for Body and Environment at NCAD adds, ‘Ranked in the top 1% of Art and Design colleges globally, NCAD occupies a unique position in art and design education in Ireland, offering the widest range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The River Island competition enhances real-world learning by immersing students in industry-led design challenges. It builds professional skills, fosters innovation in high street fashion, and nurtures boundary-pushing creatives who are ready for the demands of the industry.
We are delighted for Clodagh and congratulate her on winning the bursary. We wish her all the best in her career. The bursary and London studio placement provide invaluable experience and an exceptional launch pad into the fashion world.” Angela O'Kelly, Head of Department Design for Body and Environment.
River Island’s commitment to nurturing young designers highlights its dedication to innovation and creativity within the fashion industry. The long-standing collaboration with NCAD exemplifies the brand’s investment in the future of fashion and a new generation of designers.
For further information please contact: Holly.Fulco@river-island.com
About NCAD
The National College of Art and Design occupies a unique position in art and design education in Ireland. It offers the largest range of Art and Design degrees in the State at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and is the only Irish university institution specialising in Art and Design. NCAD has over 1,100 full-time students and a further 450 students who take award and non-award bearing part-time classes. Further information is available at www.ncad.ie.
About River Island
River Island: the boutique of the high street. With over 70 years’ experience and 235 stores across the UK and Ireland, their womenswear, menswear, and kidswear collections inspire our customers to look and feel good for the moments that matter.
