Orla Kiely: History, Designs, and Where to Buy

A single geometric leaf on a clean background became a global design empire, but Orla Kiely’s journey from Irish accessories label to licensing-led brand involved a near-death retail collapse. Here’s how the stem print survived when the flagship stores didn’t.

Founded: 1995 ·
Country of Origin: Ireland ·
Known For: Stem print and retro patterns ·
Current Status: Active through licensing ·
Notable Honor: OBE (2009)

Six key facts, one pattern: Orla Kiely built a design empire on a single motif, survived a retail collapse, and reinvented herself — all while keeping her signature aesthetic intact.

The brand’s turning point was a retail implosion that forced a licensing pivot, as the table below shows.

What happened to Orla Kiely?

Closure of flagship stores

In September 2018, the parent company Kiely Rowan entered voluntary liquidation, a move that led to the closure of all owned retail stores across the UK and Ireland, as reported by TheIndustry.fashion (fashion trade publication). This included the brand’s flagship locations in Covent Garden, King’s Road, Dublin, and New York.

Shift to licensing model

Unlike many brands that disappear after liquidation, Orla Kiely’s home and design licensing business was not affected by the store closures. According to TheIndustry.fashion, the brand refocused on licensing partnerships and direct-to-consumer e-commerce, cutting out the overhead of physical retail.

Continued product availability

The official website orlakiely.com still operates, selling bags, homeware, and accessories. An outlet section offers past-season items at up to 60% off. Products are also available through authorized retailers like Kilkenny Design (Irish retail partner) in Ireland and John Lewis in the UK.

Can you still buy Orla Kiely?

Official website and outlet

• The official website orlakiely.com sells bags, homeware, and accessories directly to consumers, with shipping to multiple countries.
• An outlet section offers past-season stock at up to 60% off, as noted on the brand’s official website (brand’s own store).

Authorized retailers

• Kilkenny Design in Ireland carries Orla Kiely homeware and bags, providing a physical option for Irish shoppers.
• John Lewis in the UK stocks selected Orla Kiely homeware and accessories.

Second-hand market

• Platforms like eBay, Vestiaire Collective, and Depop have active listings for vintage and pre-owned Orla Kiely bags and accessories.
• Prices range from under €50 for smaller items to several hundred euros for rare or discontinued pieces.

The pattern: the brand is simultaneously less visible in physical retail and more accessible online. The catch: consumers lose a hands-on shopping experience but gain wider product availability and discount access.

Is Orla Kiely Irish?

Birth and upbringing in Dublin

Born on 24 May 1962 in Dublin, Ireland, Orla Kiely grew up in a city where design was not yet celebrated as a career. According to a profile in South China Morning Post (Hong Kong-based international news outlet), she studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin before earning a master’s degree at the Royal College of Art in London.

Relocation to London

After completing her master’s, Kiely moved permanently to London in the 1990s. Her graduation show in 1993 caught the attention of Harrods buyers, who ordered her hats — a pivotal moment that launched her commercial career, as reported by South China Morning Post.

Irish identity in design

Despite living and working in London for three decades, Kiely retains her Irish nationality. The British Council Ireland (UK-Ireland cultural relations body) notes that the Orla Kiely Partnership was founded in 1997 with her husband, Dermott Rowan, blending Irish and British design influences.

Why is Orla Kiely famous?

Signature stem print

The Stem motif, designed in 2000, became the brand’s visual signature. According to the Orla Kiely official website (brand’s own history), Kiely drew inspiration from mid-century design and vintage objects from the 1960s and 1970s. The pattern is simple but distinctive: a single leaf on a stem, repeated in geometric rows.

Retro-inspired aesthetic

The brand was created “around bold colour and graphic design at a time when fashion was dominated by black,” according to the brand’s official website. Earthy tones — olive, mustard, rust, teal — became her palette, standing out against the minimalist trends of the late 1990s.

Expansion into home furnishings

The brand expanded beyond accessories into ready-to-wear, luggage, home furnishings, stationery, and broader lifestyle collections. As noted by TheIndustry.fashion (fashion industry trade publication), this expansion made the stem print as common on bedding and wallpaper as it was on handbags.

Who owns the Orla Kiely brand?

Founder and creative director

Orla Kiely herself remains the founder and creative director of the brand that bears her name. She continues to oversee design and licensing decisions, as indicated by the brand’s official communications.

Licensing partners

The brand’s operations are managed through licensing agreements with specialist partners. TheIndustry.fashion reported that after the 2018 liquidation, the home and design licensing business continued without interruption through distribution partners.

Corporate ownership structure

There is no public disclosure of majority ownership. The brand is privately controlled, and specific financial stakes beyond Orla Kiely and Dermott Rowan’s involvement are not a matter of public record. This lack of transparency means its exact net worth remains unverified.

Timeline

• 1962: Orla Kiely born in Dublin, Ireland. (South China Morning Post)
• 1995: Launches own label, initially designing hats. (Orla Kiely official website)
• Late 1990s: Introduces signature stem print on handbags; gains cult following. (Orla Kiely official website)
• 2000s: Expands into ready-to-wear, homeware, and licensing deals. (TheIndustry.fashion)
• 2009: Appointed OBE for services to fashion. (TheIndustry.fashion)
• 2010s: Opens flagship stores in London, Dublin, and New York. (PubBiz)
• 2018: Parent company enters voluntary liquidation; owned retail stores close. (TheIndustry.fashion)
• 2025: Brand continues via orlakiely.com and authorized retailers. (Orla Kiely official website)

Quotes

“The brand was created around bold colour and graphic design at a time when fashion was dominated by black.”

— Orla Kiely brand description, Orla Kiely official website (brand’s own history page)

“The home and design licensing business was not affected by the liquidation and continued through distribution partners.”

— Industry report, TheIndustry.fashion (fashion trade publication)

The takeaway from these two statements: the brand’s marketing said it was bold, but the financial reality was starker — the licensing business was the actual safety net.

Frequently asked questions

For the Irish shopper considering an Orla Kiely bag or a homeware piece, the choice is clear: buy from the official site for the full range and outlet discounts, or check second-hand platforms for discontinued designs — but know that the brand’s future depends entirely on licensing partners, not on a retail revival.