Ballina man set to launch streetwear brand this August
Danny Dempsey from Ballina is founding his own independent streetwear brand, Onyx-13
A Ballina man is set to launch an independent Irish streetwear brand with a strong focus on a high-quality product that is created ethically and made locally.
Danny Dempsey will launch Onyx-13 on August 13 next and the brand’s first product is a 460GSM heavyweight hoodie with five colourways, featuring a unique and eye-catching Celtic tribal bird logo created from scratch.
Danny, who moved to Ballina from Dublin 20 years ago, told the Western People he is an ordinary working-class man with no background in the clothing industry. However, his passion for creating a premium streetwear product led him to creating Onyx-13. The name, he explained, comes from the natural stone onyx and from the dates of birth of his two children.
“I think it has a good ring to it,” he said. “I’ve always believed in quality over quantity. I look around the streets and see a lot of fast fashion that has no soul.”
“I wanted to prove you could build something premium and Irish without compromising on standards and Onyx-13 is that. We have one product, done right, and we do it right here in Ballina with no shortcuts.”
The embroidery and stitching are done by hand with a local partner in Ballina and it is important to Danny that the product his brand creates follows the best industry and ethical standards.
The hoodie is made from OEKO-TEX certified fabric, meaning the finished product has been independently tested for harmful chemicals and consumer allergens.
“We keep it local as much as we can. The blank hoodies are made in China but we source them carefully and ensure ethical labour standards are in place with our suppliers,” he said.
“Working conditions are audited, verified and certified. Workers' rights, fair wages, fair conditions, that is important to me. Then we finish the product right here in Ballina. If I couldn’t do that, I wouldn’t be launching a brand.”
Danny has ambitious plans for Onyx-13 and its first product launches on August 13 in a limited run with each hoodie costing €99.99.
“This isn’t a side project, it’s a proper brand built from personal savings with one goal and that is to become Ireland’s biggest independent streetwear brand," said Danny.
