Orla Keily: 'Why city breaks are vital inspiration for my collections'
Irish designer Orla Kiely reveals how she likes to travel light and spend hours walking around cities to glean inspiration.
With travel, less is more
When you’re travelling constantly for work it can be more of a hassle than a pleasure. Now that my sons, Robert and Hamish, are in their 20s, they’re not really into travelling with their old parents, so it’s just my husband, Dermott, and me.
Weekend breaks are vital inspiration for my collections
Dermott and I visited Venice last September during the Biennale Arte. We had a fabulous time.
I could walk endlessly around Porto
The city’s rambling architecture and tile-covered buildings take my breath away. The tile prints, colours and patterns were the foundation for one of my collections last year.
My main indulgence while travelling is...
...splashing out on a nice hotel, then great food. I love cultural, city holidays, visiting museums, art galleries and churches. I always avoid early-morning or late-night flights. I’m not a beach person, or even a swimming pool person.
I’m a strictly one carry-on girl
I never check my luggage. When I went away to Mallorca last year for a week with my mother, brother and sister, they were amazed at how little I took.
I find train journeys calming
I’m not the greatest flier or sailor so if it’s feasible, I travel by train as much as I can and prefer trains before planes and boats. Since the launch of Eurostar, going to Paris is always a joy and I’d love to try the Orient Express one day too.
A hidden Parisian gem I love to visit is...
...the Pavillon de la Reine, tucked away off the Place des Vosges, behind this beautiful courtyard. It’s got just the right amount of luxury and authentic Parisian style.
My first trip abroad was to France
I went in the early Seventies with my parents, granny and three siblings. We got the car ferry from Rosslare to Le Havre and drove to a campsite in Brittany. Us kids considered it very exotic but our car broke down on the way in the middle of nowhere. By the time we got back on the road, it was dark and I was certain we’d get lost.
I love escaping to the countryside
The Isles of Scilly is one of my favourite spots in the UK. We used to go a lot when the boys were young. I enjoyed going for long walks, visiting the flower farms and beaches, or getting on a boat to go island hopping.
I feel most relaxed when...
...I go home to Dublin returning to all the places that I loved and knew growing up, and it’s great to get all the extended family together. We lived two minutes from the beach, so I loved brisk walks along the sand. It’s just a short journey to the rugged coastline of County Wicklow.
San Sebastian is the food capital of the world
It is one of the cities with the most Michelin-starred restaurants. I once tried the wonderful tasting menu there, with too much wine. It was a real treat.
My favourite city is Tokyo
It is so modern and futuristic, yet steeped in tradition. I always come away infused with new ideas when I visit, plus the food is to die for.
Kyoto has a spiritual feel
It is a close second as my favourite city. I was once invited to stay at a traditional ryokan there called Tawaraya, one of the best. There were beautiful views over the lush gardens and the cherry blossoms were out of this world.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Helsinki...
...but I loved it. It was really cold and snowy, but felt magical and had a cool vibe. I adore Scandinavian design and one of my favourite companies, Marimekko, was founded there. We had the most amazing dinner at a simple Russian restaurant with live music.
I felt removed from civilisation at the Hotel Budir in Iceland
Located by the Snaefellsjokull glacier, there was hardly anyone else around us. This starkly breathtaking hotel is where Jules Verne based Journey to the Centre of the Earth. It was one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at.
It’s my dream to visit Cuba
My son, Robert, visited in the summer of 2015 and raved about it. There’s a raw faded beauty to it, like it’s stuck in time. It’s a relief that people there aren’t as caught up in technology, and they’re not bothered about constantly being on their phone or on the internet.
I’d love to explore...
...South America. I’ve never been any further south than Los Angeles in North America.
Orla Kiely: A Life In Pattern is on until September 23 at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. See ftmlondon.org.
Interview by Sarah Ewing
