Dunne Cliff
/Show Day
April 09
/Social Media
DUNNE CLIFF is a conceptual knitwear brand. Heritage and humour are core to the label, and collections consider topics relating to philosophy, technology, the history of science, and art.
ALLISON DUNNE is an emerging Canadian designer from British Columbia. Her family heritage in Shetland, Scotland influences DUNNE CLIFF pieces, which feature traditional knitwear motifs. Allison released three runway collections at Vancouver Fashion Week between 2023 and 2024 and will be showcasing her upcoming collection “FAKE NEWS” in April 2025. Allison was a Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) finalist for Fashion Design Student of the Year (2023) and is a recipient of the FASHN DISRPTR Award with Fashion Art Toronto (2025). Her work has been featured on CTV NEWS, COSMOPOLITAN KOREA, VOGUE ITALY and VOGUE MEXICO.
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What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
I knew I wanted to become a designer from a young age after spending time in my grandfather's design studio. My love of history, philosophy, and critical thinking eventually came together with fashion, allowing me to tell stories through clothing.
How would you describe your design style?
My designs are rooted in traditional Fair Isle knitwear while exploring philosophy, history, science, and technology. I see each collection as an essay that examines ideas through craftsmanship and storytelling.
What can people expect from your latest collection?
My latest collection explores our relationship with technology and innovation while remaining grounded in heritage craftsmanship. Through hand-crafted knitwear, I invite people to reflect on progress, tradition, and the questions that shape our future.
Why is Fair Isle knitwear such an important part of your work?
My family's heritage comes from the Shetland Islands, where Fair Isle knitting has a long tradition. Continuing that craft allows me to honour my family's history while pushing the technique in new and unexpected directions.
What do you mean by “clothing as essay”?
I think of each collection as an essay rather than simply a group of garments. Fashion allows me to explore questions about history, technology, philosophy, and society, encouraging conversation instead of offering simple answers.