Weaving her way to success

By day, Dorinda McCormack teaches primary school children in Cavan. By night, she transforms fine wool into handcrafted designer handbags from a loom at her Newbliss home. Now, with a nomination at the Irish Made Awards, run by Irish Country Magazine, and a growing national following, her creations are turning heads far beyond Monaghan.

Sixteen years ago, Dorinda began selling her handmade creations on Etsy as a creative outlet.

Today, she is preparing for another appearance at Gifted in Dublin's RDS while celebrating recognition at the prestigious Irish Made Awards.

The journey started simply enough. A home economics teacher with a lifelong interest in textiles, Dorinda began experimenting with hand-spinning and weaving before deciding she wanted to create something a little different.

“I really enjoyed making fabric and I wanted to make something more than the usual placemats or table runners,” she said.

Drawn to vintage-inspired accessories, she started making small purses before gradually progressing to wallets and handbags. The learning process was entirely self-taught. “It was a lot of trial and error,” she laughed.

Dorinda lives above the family's butcher's business in Newbliss with her husband, Stephen Larmer, and their two children. Using fine wool yarns, Dorinda weaves her own fabric before cutting, sewing and assembling each handbag by hand.

“It's all wool,” she explained. “I spend the summer doing the weaving. It takes about five hours to set up the loom and, if you have a good run at it, you'd get the fabric woven in about a week. Then a bag might take another two or three days.”

The process is meticulous, with every scrap carefully used: “It took so long to make the fabric that it broke my heart to throw anything away,” she said. “That's why the leftovers become brooches and smaller accessories.”

Her designs draw inspiration from everywhere, but especially nature: “I love looking at the colours in birds and the combinations that occur naturally,” she said. “Sometimes colours you wouldn't normally put together work beautifully in nature.”

The result is a collection of textured handbags that feel both classic and contemporary. Many feature tartan-inspired patterns and rich colour palettes, while each design carries an Irish name drawn from her extended family.

Among the most popular pieces are the Esme bag, a structured handbag with a leather handle, and the Marta collection, designed for everyday use.

“My goal is that the bag you buy will see you through any season,” she said. “It shouldn't be an occasion bag sitting in a press. If you're spending the money on it, enjoy it. Use it every day.”

That philosophy appears to resonate. After appearing on RTÉ's Nationwide, Dorinda's website sold out in less than half an hour: “Before the programme had even finished, everything was gone,” she recalls.

The surge in demand reinforced something she already knew about her products: “They're designed to last,” she said. “The bag I use myself has been through the wars and it's still going strong.”

Despite increasing recognition, Dorinda remains grounded. Her handbag business continues alongside a full-time teaching career: “I'm lucky that I have the security of a full-time job, so it gives me the freedom to experiment and work out what's best.”

That balancing act has become even busier recently following her nomination in the national final of the Irish Made Awards, with the ceremony set to take place at the Johnstown Estate, Co Meath on September 30.

While excited by the recognition, Dorinda admits she is less enthusiastic about the networking opportunities: “I'd be happy enough letting someone else do all the talking,” she jokes. “But it'll be great to have Stephen there for support.”

She is also quick to acknowledge those who helped along the way, particularly fellow Monaghan weaving entrepreneur Liz Christy: “Liz has been incredibly inspirational and a great mentor,” she said. “She made me realise I didn't need another qualification or certificate. What mattered was the work itself.”

For now, Dorinda's focus is on preparing for the Christmas season, her return to Gifted at the RDS and the Designer Crafts fair at the Market House in her native Monaghan Town. Beyond that, she hopes to continue refining a business built on craftsmanship, creativity and patience.