The IDA have this week claimed that Ireland has great potential as a “fashion capital.”
According to a Marketing Analyst in Technology at IDA Ireland, Caoimhe Kenny, Ireland has become a premier international location for the most innovative fashion tech and e-commerce companies in the industry over the last number of years. This includes Amazon, eBay, Gilt Groupe, Etsy and Overstock.com.
Furthermore, online fashion platform Zalando recently unveiled its brand new Fashion Insights Centre in Dublin’s Silicon Docks. And just this month, Ralph Lauren, one of the world’s premium lifestyle brands announced plans to build a global e-commerce hub in the city.
Kenny believes Ireland has been successful in this sector because we have a young, highly educated, multilingual workforce and access to a labour pool of over 500 million people across the European Union and beyond.
Last year, the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Ireland 10th in the world for the ready availability of skilled labor and 1st in the world for the flexibility and adaptability of the workforce. When asked why Etsy chose to locate in Ireland’s capital, Kruti Patel Goyal, Vice President of International at Etsy said, “Dublin was chosen due to its strong technology cluster, the availability of our required skill sets and the strength of “Brand Dublin” internationally.”
Caoimhe Kenny says Ireland is one of the easiest places in the world to do business, thanks to flexible labour laws, world-class technology infrastructure and a low corporate tax rate of 12.5%. We also offer a 25% R&D tax credit and a best in class Knowledge Development Box – the only OECD Compliant Box regime globally. Caoimhe believes these factors allow companies to scale quickly and efficiently in Ireland.
"Creativity and innovation is inherent to the Irish people, it’s in our blood," Kenny said. "From the literary genius of Joyce, Beckett and Wilde to the scientific innovation of Robert Boyle and Lord Kelvin, to the musical prowess of Enya and U2, the Emerald Isle has always been a breeding ground for creativity, artistic freedom and innovation. Ireland also boasts some heavy hitters in the fashion design industry: pieces by Philip Treacy, Orla Kiely, Louise Kennedy and John & Simone Rocha have graced the world’s catwalks and adorned many international celebs."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
