Wicklow Fashion Brand To Feature Prominently During Ireland's Six Nations Clash With Wales

Greystones sustainable fashion brand House of Hofu secured advertising worth more than €25,000 which will seen their branding flashed up tonight as Ireland’s Six Nations Championship clash with Wales team at Aviva Stadium

A Wicklow-based fashion company will see its name displayed at one of the biggest rugby fixtures of the year after winning a major national business competition.

Greystones sustainable fashion label House of Hofu has been announced as one of two winners of Vodafone Ireland’s “See Your Business Pitchside” competition, securing advertising worth more than €25,000 during Ireland’s Six Nations Championship clash with Wales national rugby union team at Aviva Stadium.

The prize means the Wicklow company’s branding will appear pitchside and across digital screens at the stadium during the match, exposing the business to more than 50,000 fans in attendance and a global television audience.

House of Hofu was founded in Greystones by designer and personal stylist Ann-Marie Woods, who launched the sustainable brand three years ago. The family-run business produces clothing, bags and alcohol-free perfume oils using environmentally friendly materials and ethical production methods.

Among the fabrics used by the brand are Seaqual, made from recycled ocean waste, and MIRUM, a plant-based alternative to leather.

Speaking after the announcement, Woods described the opportunity as “amazing”, saying it will help raise the profile of the young Wicklow business.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for us. Having started only three years ago, we’re still growing our business and it takes time to get out there as a smaller brand,” she said. “I can’t believe that House of Hofu is next – it’s going to blow my mind when I see it.”

Pictured is the founder of House of Hofu, Ann-Marie Woods, with her family at the Aviva ahead of Ireland's match against Wales today. House of Hofu and Thomp2 Socks were announced as winners of Vodafone Ireland's Six Nations See Your Business Pitchside competition earlier this week. 

As part of the prize, Woods and her family will watch Ireland take on Wales while their brand features around the stadium.

The second winner of the competition is Thomp2 Socks, a family-run sock company founded by entrepreneur Thomas Barry, which aims to support people in the Down syndrome community and has pledged five per cent of its profits to related services and charities.

Both winners will also receive VIP match tickets and invitations to the team’s Captain’s Run event.

Vodafone Business director Jo Gilfoy said the initiative is designed to give Irish SMEs meaningful exposure.

She said House of Hofu and Thomp2 Socks are “fantastic businesses driven by purpose” and that the pitchside advertising will put them in front of thousands of potential customers.

Previous winners of the competition have included sustainable fashion company Urban Aran, dairy business Killadoon Milk, and Dublin print studio JANDO.

The Greystones brand will make its pitchside debut as Ireland continue their Six Nations campaign against Wales in Dublin tonight.