My Story & Photo Gallery

My journey began with three things close to my heart: fashion, the circular economy, and the rugged beauty of the Dingle Peninsula. Growing up in rural Tipperary, I always dreamed of studying Fashion Design, but practicality steered me into a career in hospitality. For over 25 years, I thrived as a chef, hotel manager, and then as the owner of my own restaurant and cafés. When a crossroads arrived in 2019, I followed my heart back to college to study Fashion Design.

Studying fashion soon brought me face to face with its environmental cost. Knowing that fashion ranks among the world’s most polluting industries sparked a crisis of conscience: how could I create without contributing to harm? The answer came unexpectedly - during a daily sea swim with the Baile Bathers, my local sea swimming group.

Inspired, I began crafting swim ponchos from repurposed cotton towels and end-of-line fabrics—materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. It was a simple idea rooted in sustainability. 

From a humble studio behind my home, the business blossomed. In September 2023, I moved production to a bright, inviting space in Dingle Marina. Here, every product is handmade with care—swim ponchos, hoodies, beach dresses, hats—each one unique, each one crafted with purpose. 

But LilyMais goes further than creating beautiful, wearable pieces. It’s about designing with the full lifecycle in mind. Every creation is circular: if you ever tire of it, bring it back to me in Dingle, and I’ll breathe new life into its components.

 Fran, 16^thSeptember 2023