While on his recent visit to Donegal to shoot our latest campaign, we sat down with extreme adventurer Damian Browne and picked his brain about what motivates him to achieve his incredible feats, what he’s listening to right now, and of course, the wild coasts of the Atlantic Ocean.
What kept you motivated when crossing the Atlantic?
In a word; meaning. The project was one of great purpose and meaning to me because of its fulfilling nature. It would give me enormous rewards on many different levels of life if I was able to complete it and plenty still if I wasn’t. Meaning is like a center mass of indefatigable energy that if you can understand your why and align your actions to that why, you will never run out of energy in the pursuit of the goal. Harnessing emotional energy through the powers of your imagination is a great way to fuel your actions and neutralise the effects of the darkest of negative states.
Best piece of advice you have ever received?
You can motivate by fear, you can motivate by reward, but the only lasting motivation is self-motivation.
Do you have a motto you live by?
Life is a fight. (And you better cultivate the capacities to deal with the fight).
What drives you?
Self realisation. Getting to my deathbed with a sincere knowing I didn’t waste a minute of my life and tried with all my heart to live courageously, authentically and lovingly.
What do you consider the greatest success in your life?
The peacefulness, contentment, and security of my default internal state.
What did you want to be when you grow up?
A professional golfer or professional rugby player.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Impossible to pick one but Glassilaun beach in Connemara, The Flaggy Shore in North Co. Clare or Bequia in The Grenadines in The Caribbean
Damian Browne with Patrick, Rosy and Charlotte Temple
What is your favourite book?
The Oxford Atlas of The World.
Describe your dream day at home in Ireland.
A mentally challenging training session, a dip in the Atlantic Ocean, quality time with Rozelle and Élodie, at least one great double espresso, a laugh with a friend/friends, a walk in nature with the dog and family, a meaningful conversation with Rozelle and 3 home cooked meals including some quality Irish beef or lamb.
What do you listen to when training?
My internal voice. I pay attention to what I am feeling; physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Apart from your own, what podcasts do you enjoy?
Desert Island Discs.
You are an incredibly busy person, what do you do to relax?
I operate out of a pretty calm state so never really feel the need to deliberately relax. However, training brings a greater sense of peace to me as does a dip in the ocean or a walk in nature.
What’s next?
I am still recovering emotionally from the incredible demands of the North Atlantic row, so I don’t have anything “big” on the horizon for the next while. In the meantime, for my travel and adventure fix I am climbing Kilimanjaro back to back in June and July.
Photography by Alex Hutchinson
Season 4 of Damian’s podcast ‘Deep Roots’ launches in June 2023
It has been a busy month at Magee 1866, spring is in the air and there is lots happening.
Here are some of the highlights from the last few weeks…
We shot and launched our women’s Spring Summer 2023 collection this month. Rich colour and luxurious fabrics define this collection, it is packed with carefree styles that are designed to make summer dressing as simple as possible and pieces are intended to integrate into your existing wardrobe, offering maximum flexibility.
The focus, as always, is on using the finest natural fibres, with many of the fabrics designed and woven at our mill in Donegal, this collection sees styles in Irish Linen, rich blends of silk and lightweight wool tweeds for warmer months.
Take a look behind the scenes of our studio shoot.
Extreme adventurer, peak performance athlete, and international keynote speaker Damian Browne gave a talk at Magee of Donegal, sharing stories about his global expeditions from climbing mountains to crossing desserts and oceans.
In conversation with MacDara Hosty, Damian described his epic 112-day solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean last year, creating history by becoming the first person ever to row from New York City to Galway as well as his future plans including an upcoming expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Damian Browne
Patrick, Elizabeth, Rosy and Lynn Temple with Damian Browne
Rosy Temple
Damian Browne and MacDara Hosty
Damian Browne and members of the Donegal Bay Rowing Club
Damian will feature in an upcoming Magee 1866 campaign and was invited by the Temple family to Donegal for the event. Go behind the scenes of the campaign shoot, shot on location in sunny Donegal.
It was all hands on deck (literally) for the family, with CEO Rosy, Design Director Charlotte, Patrick, CEO of Magee Weaving and Chairman Lynn busy preparing the family boat ‘Sandpiper’ for the shoot.
Earlier in the month, the design team previewed Autumn Winter 2023, whetting our appetite for the colour and texture to come.
Creative Director Charlotte attended Punchestown Races in one of the newest additions to our women’s collection, the Molly breasted blazer. Ideal for this time of year when the sun is shining but still a little bit unpredictable temperature-wise, this style is crafted in a 100% wool herringbone Donegal Tweed, designed and woven at our mill in Donegal. The versatile camel and oat base is flecked with vibrant neps of duck egg blue, yellow, and mulberry, synonymous with Donegal Tweeds.
Finally, Patrick’s Cheviot sheep are lambing, with lots of happy new additions joining the flock. Patrick is working closely with a local shepherd in raising this flock as part of our commitment to developing Irish wool for use in our collections.
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This International Womens’ Day, we reached out to women we admire and invited them to share some words of wisdom…
EASKEY BRITTON PhD, Blue Health Scientist, Surfer & Author
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
Irish artist Pauline Bewick has had the greatest influence on me since I first went to her art class aged 10. She embodied the wild feminine, encouraged me to nurture my creative power and to boldly express myself.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
“Our strength is in being soft, like water.” – freediver and founder of I Am Water, Hanli Prinsloo.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Our bodies are over 60% saltwater. And every second breath we take comes from the ocean. Breathe deep, you breathe the ocean inside. And remember, we are ocean.
Easkey’s new book ‘Ebb and Flow’: Connect with the Patterns and Power of Water’ will be released on April 11th, and is available for pre-order now via this link.
SIOBHÁN MCSWEENEY, Actor & Presenter
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
I have to say my female friends. I have the most remarkable group of gals in my friendship circle. A veritable coven of wise, supportive, funny and inspiring women. Women who raise children and continue to maintain their own identity despite a system that demands that motherhood is subjugation and subsuming. These women are extraordinary role models both for me and the children they are rearing.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
From my own brilliant mother; Try and live by yourself for some time if you can. If you can’t live by yourself, how can you expect anyone to live with you (fully aware this is quite the privilege in this economic climate). I think at heart this is a version of Ru Paul’s – “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love someone else?”
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Remember as an actor the best tool you have is yourself. Don’t try and become a tabula rasa and erase everything that makes you unique. But keep working on yourself to become the most interesting, creative, professional and mischievous version of yourself. Thats what our industry needs; interesting and interested imps.
This summer, Siobhán will be starring in Landmark Production’s ‘Happy Days’, written by Samuel Beckett and directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, more information here.
AMBER BARRETT, Irish International Footballer
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
A woman that I have always admired is Serena Williams. She continually pushes barriers and boundaries for her sport and succeeding under constant criticism. Dominating her sport, the way she did for such a long time, is such an unbelievable accomplishment.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
The best advice I received from a woman was listening to Jo Malone on the High-Performance podcast, and she said, “never make a life changing decision on a bad day” and it’s something that really stuck with me. Important to always be in a clear mind for these types of moments.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
The best advice I would give would be to keep doing what they say you can’t do or what you aren’t able to. Push your own boundaries and do more. And the rest follows suit.
Amber and the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team will compete in this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Aimee Connolly, founder of Sculpted by Aimee. I have met many incredible women over the years but this year I sat down with Aimee to film some content and I was blown away by her ambition/ dedication and lack of ego. She has achieved so much in business and is only getting started!
What advice would you offer another women in your field/industry?
Don’t let nerves stop you from taking that first step into your speaking career. Public speaking is terrifying at first and it can be enough to put you off. However, if you persevere it could change your life!
To name one is to omit many – so truthfully, it’s all of my female colleagues who maintain amazing, ambitious and ever-surprising practices despite the financial and practical difficulties of longevity in this industry.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
Rather than trying to make the ‘best’ work – just make the ‘next’ work – nothing can ever contain everything – and if it did that would be the end.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Surround yourself with supportive people who value you as well as your work – and – it’s your life not a race.
Niamh O’Malley’s critically acclaimed exhibition that represented Ireland at the 2022 Venice Biannale Gather – is on display at The Model, Sligo until April 8th, 2023.
CHARLOTTE TEMPLE, Design Director & 5th Generation Family Member – Magee 1866
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
Amelia Earhart, the pilot. I love adventure and hugely admire a variety of early female adventurers and explorers who were groundbreaking in their particular fields in a time when women didn’t have the freedom, we experience today in the western world to travel and explore. They were incredibly resilient, brave and determined. Qualities that I feel are so important today, in any field – business to adventure.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
I used to be a real worrier and spend hours at night awake thinking and worrying about things I couldn’t control. As someone once told me in no uncertain terms – this is wasted energy and emotion and leaves you feeling exhausted!
The best advice I have been given is stop worrying about things that are completely out of your control, worrying about them will change nothing – it just stresses you out. Manage what you can control and generally things fall into place. We are all human and I do sometimes wake at night with something on my mind, I now listen to a sleep story or some music which is a good distraction.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
We spend our life trying to find a balance, (or certainly I do!) and often get it very wrong, especially as a woman – it can be very hard to keep everyone happy – family, children, husband or partner, teams at work and yourself. When everything gets too much, try, hard as it might be to take a step back, breathe and reassess what is most important to you right now and prioritise – a day at a time. Give yourself some time, if you can find some space for you – some sport, a quiet moment with a book, a spa treatment – it often helps to put other areas of our busy lives into perspective & create a better balance – family, work and day to day life.
“Cosying up on the sofa with the kids under one of the new brightly coloured throws to watch a Christmas film (‘A Boy Called Christmas’ is our favourite) is my idea of bliss. If my children are reading this (or husband!) this is what I would love for Christmas.”
“I love the new Sheelin jacket in the Blackwatch check. It’s warm and comfortable but smart enough to pair with jeans for a Christmas night out with friends.”
“You can never have too much knitwear. I love the Achill polo jumper, it’s a nice casual alternative to a shirt under a Donegal Tweed jacket or just on its own. Lightweight and super soft thanks to the cashmere, yet warm and cosy. A great layering piece.”
“One of my favourite things to do on Christmas morning is to go out for a walk with family and plan the day ahead. Weather in the Northwest can be unpredictable to say the least, so the Nessa coat would be perfect! The quilting and longer length mean I can pop it on over a jumper and jeans and wrap up well in one of my Magee 1866 scarves. Ideal!”
“Christmas is a really busy time, travelling around to catch up with family and friends with lots of different events. I would love to find the Clodagh shirt jacket (the herringbone one in a luxury baby alpaca blend) under the tree, it’s so versatile and will go with so many different looks – both smart and casual.“
In fashion, we are always looking to the future, collections are planned and prepared months in advance, with multiple teams involved. All of this hard work comes to fruition on photoshoot days and it is when the next stage of a collection’s journey begins…
“Seeing designs go from sketches and swatches to real, wearable garments is always a thrill. On a photoshoot you get the opportunity to style and play and have fun with the collection, it’s certainly one of my favourite parts of the job!”
Design Director, Charlotte Temple.
We have lots of exciting styles coming this Autumn Winter, it’s a collection we’re really proud of. Based on our roots and designed to showcase the best of what we do, taking our unique fabrics and creating timeless pieces. We can’t wait to share it with you, in the meantime, here’s a brief behind the scenes look at our recent shoot. A dreamy location and fantastic team, it doesn’t get much better.
Models: Paul Kerr and Phoebe Tan of Morgan the Agency
Planning for Autumn Winter 2020 started at the end of May, with an initial concept and style meeting. It is always a little hard thinking about a season a year away, before the current Fall season has even landed and while in the middle of finishing up for Spring Summer 2020!
I would describe our small luxury brand as ‘slow fashion’, a more sustainable approach to fashion, which we believe very strongly in. Our collections are designed to stand the test of time and while we are reactive and very receptive to trends we are not entirely driven by the latest ‘must-have’ fad. This is a relief when looking a year down the line as we know we have a great core range of products to work from and are not reinventing the wheel every season. We have classic blocks and styles that we run year on year, we tweak where required and develop some key new styles to enhance the collection.
Our fabric selection does change from season to season and we are looking to push the boundaries here, particularly in our women’s collection. Traditionally we would have played it quite safe with colourful, yet classic checks and herringbones. Now we are embracing what our own Weaving mill does best on the international market – bold, intricate and colourful fabrics. These stand-out pieces are really quite special and balanced with timeless designs – e.g. herringbones and plains.
While a large focus of the Magee 1866 collections is around our own fabrics – we work with a number of other mills namely in the UK, Italy and Portugal. These mills bring something different – a worsted suiting, a luxury silk print, cottons for trousers, shirting fabrics and an increasing number of technical fabrics for outerwear.
Liberty of London silk print and Italian silks.
Two days in Milan (where our own Weaving also showcase the next season) covers the majority of these mills. This time is spent going from mill to mill, viewing their collections and sampling. I love it – exhausting but exciting to see what other mills are working at and over the course of the show next Autumn’s collection really starts to take shape.
Luxury natural fibre yarns
There is an increasing drive across fashion for brands and consumers to adopt a more sustainable approach to fashion.
Trend inspiration for Autumn Winter 2020.
A snapshot of our own Weaving stand at Milan – showcasing what we do best – luxury and natural fabrics. Cashmeres, wools and alpacas.
The planning for the Spring Summer photoshoot starts in December when the initial concepts are played out for the season. Spring is the perfect season to showcase the best of Donegal, our home and the place where much of our inspiration stems for the collections.
Inspirational mood boards for SS20
The process evolves at Milan in February, our main textile show, when choosing fabrics for the collection. At times it can be hard getting excited about linens and the beach as the snow falls in Europe in the middle of winter, but the fashion world is always two seasons ahead.
Selecting fabrics at Milan
A photoshoot has a glamorous ring to it, but involves rather mundane planning and logistics, in particular chasing samples around the world to make sure they arrive on time. However it does have its exciting elements – pulling together the long-planned outfits and creating a story around the collection, we finally see those initial concepts coming to life.
The day arrives and with it, the hope it will be dry, we don’t mind if it is cloudy (better for the photographer) or windy but horizontal rain, so often found in Donegal creates a problem. We have managed over the years to combat all weathers – from snow, to gales and torrential rain. This year we chose Murvagh to shoot – a long sandy beach banked with Maran grass and dunes. Perfect for this year’s theme – a Sea Safari.
We have a brilliant team – Alex our photographer who we have used for the last few years – he has the ability to give Magee, a brand steeped in heritage, a cool and contemporary edge. We pull video into the day as well – a vital medium for the digital age we live in, Ciaran quietly works around Alex and brings the day to life with his engaging behind the scenes and collection videos. Add makeup, hair, models and our own patient, hardworking and enthusiastic team.
This season for men’s we are using Roelof, a fun and classically good looking South African model who we shot a few seasons ago. (The key is ensuring our models work with our brand profile and fit our clothes – we have had a few disasters over the years, with wooden models and those that simply do not fit our garments, despite their profile size and reassurance from the agency…)
The day usually starts with makeup and hair around 0700. By the time Roelof arrives we are ready to shoot the first shot at about 0900. This year we started with our capsule collection of casual lux – a contemporary, branded range of Irish Linen shirts, pants, sweats, polos and tees – a very new look for us! We try to get the bulk of the shots in before lunchtime – about 1400 and tend to work through about 12 – 14 shots a day, with casual clothing it is easy, but suits create require more tweaking to ensure they look sharp.
My aim is to ensure the shots look great but also that the day is relaxed and fun. If everyone is happy the shots and videos are so much better. The results below speak for themselves, a sneak preview into our SS20 collection – launching January 2020.
An Irish Linen suit designed and woven by us styled with an Irish Linen grandfather shirt. Suit available from February 2020
