The Bold Irish Streetwear Brand Emporium Turning Heads Worldwide
The label EMPORIUM is positioning Ireland within the global streetwear scene has fans queuing around the block for €95 hoodies. Kate Demolder reports.
Robbie Fidgeon Kavanagh (26) and Charlie Proctor-Quigley (25) first connected “halfway,” through the power of social media. “Back in the Facebook days, there was a group literally called ‘Streetwear Ireland,’ which we both followed as teenagers,” Fidgeon Kavanagh explains.
Their in-person meetings were serendipitous. “We kept bumping into each other at events at Brown Thomas, where I was working,” he recalls. “Charlie would come in and talk endlessly about shoes. One day, he just asked outright, ‘Can I work here?’ And as it happened, we were hiring, so we brought him on board.”
Proctor-Quigley chimes in, smiling, “It was better to hang out there and make money than to spend it.” Fidgeon Kavanagh adds, “We were only 18 or 19 back then,” marking the early beginnings of what would become EMPORIUM.
The Dublin-based streetwear label originally launched as an event curation and organisation brand. “Nowadays, markets are trendy, but back then, not so much for our generation,” Fidgeon Kavanagh says. “We thought, why not gather multiple brands in one place to create a community of brand leaders?”
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It worked. But then Charlie proposed a new idea: “Let’s make merch.” They started with a t-shirt, which outsold all the other brands at their pop-up events. “It was so successful we restocked, and that sold out too. Then we made two colorways, then four, then eight—before we knew it, we had a miniature collection.”
Proctor-Quigley adds, “We also started selling Levi’s 550s with rhinestone graphics in a Western font down the leg. We found them for £12 each and it took off.” Six years later, the duo admits they’re still learning as they go, but EMPORIUM has become a defining name in Irish streetwear.
From the start, EMPORIUM’s mission was to represent Ireland in the global streetwear conversation, often overshadowed by larger European fashion capitals. “You go to other cities in Europe, and there’s always a cohesive scene,” says Fidgeon Kavanagh. “Artists, musicians—everyone’s wearing the same brands, and it all ties together.”
Through research, they believed they could elevate basics like oversized hoodies and durable vintage denim into high-concept luxury pieces. By 2020, their collections were making waves in independent boutiques across Dublin, catching the attention of streetwear enthusiasts across the country. Their debut pieces—graphic tees and thick, cosy tracksuits—flew off the shelves.
“At one point, we had a line of 120 people around the block,” Fidgeon Kavanagh recounts. “One guy from Limerick showed up at 8 AM, and we weren’t opening until noon.”
Fidgeon Kavanagh and Proctor-Quigley, who both grew up in Glenageary and Dalkey, come from backgrounds of entrepreneurship, education, and fashion.
While they didn’t formally study fashion—Fidgeon Kavanagh majored in Geography and Sociology, and Proctor-Quigley studied Mechanical Engineering—they developed their brand through passion and internships with cult-status fashion labels.
They became fascinated with how clothing could convey social messages without a word. “The way certain shoes or brands are recognized by cultural subgroups was powerful,” Fidgeon Kavanagh explains. Proctor-Quigley adds, “I was drawn to the eclectic nature of streetwear, how it lets you mix formal and casual pieces however you like.”
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In autumn last year, the pair committed to opening a physical storefront. Despite having significant success online during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Fidgeon Kavanagh pushed for a brick-and-mortar location. “We ordered thousands of euros worth of stock, and when it all arrived at my parents’ house, I realised, ‘This is real.’”
What Does The Future Hold For Irish Streetwear Brand Emporium?
Finding a retail space for Emporium, however, wasn’t easy. After months of negotiations and paperwork, a deal fell through just two days before their scheduled opening. Desperate, they walked the streets of Dublin, calling every number attached to ‘To Let’ signs. Eventually, they found their space on Drury Street, and with only 48 hours to prepare, opened the store without even a cash register.
Months later, they secured a lease. “We weren’t sure if it was insane to stay,” Fidgeon Kavanagh admits, “but it felt feasible.” Five years later, EMPORIUM is a permanent fixture on Drury Street and is stocked internationally, including in Japan, a place Proctor-Quigley describes as an “inspirational hub” for the brand.
Their journey to build Emporium came full circle when Brown Thomas, where they had first connected, began stocking their pieces. “The buying team didn’t even know we used to work there,” Proctor-Quigley laughs.
Looking ahead, they’re committed to keeping things intentionally small, citing Patagonia’s approach as an inspiration. “Creatively, Charlie pushes boundaries, and I think about whether it makes sense,” Fidgeon Kavanagh says.
For now, their focus remains simple: making quality clothes and continuing to put Ireland on the global streetwear map. Visit EMPORIUM at 21 Drury Street, Dublin 2, and experience streetwear like never before.
