Nuala Convery

Fierce Irish babe & designer behind FEM. Fatale

* This content was created for FEMMEHOOD magazine, view the full publication here.

Fashion design and illustration are just two of the things Nuala Convery does with authenticity and genuine talent. Utterly confident in who she is and what she stands for, Nuala has no problem admitting her designs for FEM. Fatale’s first collection are not for the faint-hearted. And nor should they be. Her work is authentically her, and that’s what we love about it. Read on to find out exactly why we chose her as an empowered and inspiring FEMMEHOOD gal...

Describe your brand, FEM. Fatale, in three words

Feisty, powerful, relatable

Tell us about the brand...

FEM. Fatale started off as my final major project in uni last year! I’m working to try and put the brand into production IRL* so keep your eyes peeled! Basically what started the idea for FEM. Fatale is that I’d noticed a huge trend in the popularity of activism and feminist thinking. Magazines like Polyester zine were really inspiring me and there were a lot of feminist-driven issues happening at the time (and still happening now!) that were important to young women - I wanted to create a brand that they could connect with.

What type of woman do you envision wearing FEM. Fatale?

Fierce young babes, probably creatives, girls who are passionate about what they believe in. The first collection designs aren’t for the faint-hearted either though. So probably a girl who likes to stand out.

What does success look like to you?

I’d love to run my own business, that would feel like success to me – to have a business that has a loyal following and that represents something I’m passionate about, and to have sound people supporting my brand…that would be amazing.

What do you admire about other creative women combine their talent and issues that they’re passionate about?

I think that people using their creativity and their place in the media to raise awareness for issues is so amazing and also so necessary. Young people are more interested in social and cultural issues that ever before IMO* and it’s because information is so accessible to them. It’s so important that designers and cultural influencers use their talents to change things up for this generation – and show young people that they can do it too.

What advice do you wish someone would have given you in your final year of uni?

Choose a final year project that you’re genuinely passionate about - don’t do something just because you think your tutors will like it. Be true to your own taste.

"Go to all your classes. Train yourself to wake up early. Do exercise, meditate, drink loads of water, eat well. Don’t compare yourself to others! Your work is unique and you are unique also."

What does the term ‘sisterhood’ mean to you?

Girls supporting each other, being kind to each other, boosting each other up and being proud and happy when your ‘sisters’ do well. Big up your girl gang!

Any personal anecdotes where sisterhood has really helped you out or helped you achieve something?

I’m lucky enough to have a ‘girl gang’ of mates who supported me the whole way through uni – we lived with each other and were also in the same class so we were basically like sisters really. I found my whole class group had a very ‘sisterhood’ vibe as well, in final year the handful of boys who had been in the class had all dropped out, so it was just a big group of girls! Everyone was really supportive and kind to each other and would help each other out – for example if anyone saw an article or something that would be relevant to someone else’s project they’d always share it with them and stuff like that. That sort of environment is so much nicer than bitchyness or super competitive vibes. I learnt so much from my class mates too, and would also help anyone if they were struggling with something that I knew how to do already.

Who’s your ultimate favourite empowered woman?

My mum!

Do you think pop culture provides young women with authentic feminist icons? If yes, who?

Mmm yes and no – you still get a lot of people refusing to use the ‘feminist’ title, even though they fully stand for gender equality. Then you also have big names like Lena Dunham, Emma Watson, Taylor Swift etc. coming out as being feminists on the media but also doing problematic things. Grimes, Brook Candy, Adwoa Aboah, Clio Peppiat, Ione Gamble are all famous people who have been feminist influencers for me. I think that Instagram & social media culture plays a huge part in it too because most of the people who truly inspire me are my feminist friends, and feminist peers who I’ve connected with through social media.

Who would you class as ‘the modern suffragettes’?

Activists of today like the people who run ‘Free the Nipple’, ‘The Homeless Period’ (I’m involved in the Belfast branch of this!), and the ‘Everyday Sexism’ campaign. People who are shouting about tampon tax, abortion rights, genital mutilation, the gender pay gap, sexual harassment…the list goes on.

**IMO = In my opinion

IRL = In real life

TEXT AMY ELLIOTT

ILLUSTRATION NUALA CONVERY

Based on interview with Nuala Convery

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity