Michael Stewart’s Standing Ground Debuts at Paris Haute Couture Week

Irish designer Michael Stewart will present his Standing Ground collection at the Irish embassy in Paris on Monday, the first day of Paris haute couture shows. Stewart, from County Clare, works from a small atelier at 180 Strand in London, where he and stylist Tallulah Harlech oversee fittings of his sculptural garments. His design concept, rooted in Ireland’s prehistoric standing stones, predates his 2017 Royal College of Art graduation collection and has evolved into a method focused on sculpted corsetry and fluid drape. Stewart persisted for five years with little interest until Lulu Kennedy invited him to participate in Fashion East shows in spring and fall 2023. He then received free studio space from Trino Verkade at Sarabande Foundation and subsidized space at Mark Wadhwa’s 180 Strand. In 2024, he won the inaugural Savoir-Faire award of the LVMH Prize, leading to his acceptance onto the couture calendar. Stewart operates as a custom-only designer, refusing to sell to stores, and relies on word-of-mouth from private clients whose identities he keeps confidential. He has avoided media engagement for two years since winning the prize.