OUR STORY
de Lacey is a luxury Irish brand with original designs inspired by organic forms and patterns in nature.
Inspired by generations of women in business in our family and an appreciation for fine fabrics, quality finishes and timeless design.
We wish to share the gem like palette of the Irish countryside in our art and silks; and the dream of a secret rose garden filled with fragrance in our perfume.
ABOUT OUR COLLECTION
Inspired by organic forms and the influence of patterns in nature, the de Lacey Artistry and Design Portfolio includes hand finished luxury silk and Devoré velvet scarves; large botanical abstract art works printed on silk; framed prints of pen and ink paintings and botanical watercolours. The de Lacey perfume completes the collection with the presentation boxes hand made in Ireland. The artist Charlie de Lacey studied Art and Photography at Kinsale College Ireland and botanical illustration with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland.
GENERATIONS OF BUSINESS WOMEN
My Great Grandmother reputedly had several shops in the City of Dublin. Although I never met her, she has always been a part of our lives, because my mother tried to pass on the business acumen she learnt as a child helping in her Grandmother’s shops; as an assistant buyer in the early years for Liberty of London; and finally as an independent business woman. I hope that one day I too can fulfil the role that my Mother has filled in my life, for future generations of our family. The story continues with Charlie de Lacey, who recently joined the Company and is responsible for our move in to botanical art and design.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
The artist Charlie de Lacey studied Art and Photography at Kinsale College, Ireland and botanical illustration with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. As the Creative Director, Charlie is responsible for the Artistry and Design Portfolio and in 2024 was awarded an artist's residency at the Uillinn West Cork Art Centre, Ireland.
Portrait of a Rose Eau de Parfum is inspired by the scent of the first roses to bloom in Spring in the de Lacey rose garden. A perfume dedicated to the rose, the fragrance has floral top notes of delicate rose with a refreshing hint of citrus.
Each perfume bottle is engraved by a crystal engraver in Cork, Ireland, with the Portrait of a Rose design of the artist Charlie de Lacey.
The presentation box is covered in linen, lined with de Lacey silk and hand embossed to provide a precious, unique keepsake box. Handmade by a traditional book binder in Cork Ireland.
Portrait of a Rose Eau de Parfum combines original Irish artistry and design; the great care and skill of Irish traditional craftsmanship; the art of the British Master Perfumer; and the dream of a secret rose garden.
Charlie de Lacey studied Art and Photography at Kinsale College, Ireland and botanical illustration with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. In 2021 Charlie produced designs as part of her Art course that were to become the first botanical designs for the company. The following year Charlie was appointed Creative Director with responsibility for the Artistry and Design Portfolio. In 2024 Charlie was awarded an artist's residency at the Uillinn West Cork Art Centre, Ireland.
The Trademark covered the following products (summary):
- Perfume; Perfume water; Perfume oils; Perfumery products.
- Essential oils
- Color prints; Canvas prints; Prints; Engravings; Silk screen prints.
- Stationery; Writing stationery; Scented stationery; Seals; Printed greeting
cards. - Silk scarves: Silk ties; Silk clothing. .
- Roses [plants]; Roses; Rose bushes; Live roses.
The aim of the company was to distill roses and other essential oil plants to produce botanical waters. The distillation apparatus consisted of 10ft of glass and many a tense hour was spent distilling seeped in the scent of roses. Different varieties of Rosa damascena were trialled until a rose was found that maintained the sweet scent of rosa damascena throughout the four hour distilling process. Our rose water was tested and is certified for sale in UK and Ireland.
My Great Grandmother reputedly had several shops in the City of Dublin, setting many of her sons up in business, whilst reserving the smallest shop for herself in Harcourt Road. Although I never met her, she has always been a part of our lives, because my mother tried to pass on the business acumen she learnt as a child helping in her Grandmother’s shops; as an assistant buyer in the early years for Liberty of London; and finally as an independent business woman.
Harcourt Road, Dublin c.1910 at its intersection with Charlotte Street which runs to both the left and right, where Elizabeth's stationery shop was located.
Further generations of business women in our family can be traced back to London. From 1786 three generations of my Mother's family attended St James’s , Piccadilly. Originally built in 1684 the church sits between Picadilly and Jermyn Street next to Fortnum and Masons. These enterprising women are recorded as running a lithographic printing business, dressmakers and artificial florist.
Ref:
- Engraving of Ackermann's view of St. James Square, 1812.
- St. James in 1795, from Horwood's Map of London
The de Lacey name is our family name and it is a derivation of the name de Lacy of our Grandparents. The origin of the name is French from Normandy. Following the Norman Conquest , in 1171 Hugh de Lacy came to Ireland and was granted the Kingdom of Meath and Governor of Ireland. However he arised the Henry II displeasure when Hugh de Lacy married Rois Ni Chonchobair, the deposed High King of Ireland. The de Lacy's legacy is the castles of Trim & Carrickfergus.
The name has survived by often being passed down the female line, as in the current family.
The Roll of de Lacy as held in the National Library of Ireland.