For all those who love local, Irish, interesting brands, Worn X Bred (WXB) is one to watch. Founded in January of 2025 by Richy O’Connor, the primarily streetwear pieces are handmade out of upcycled clothing. This project is run completely by him, which he manages on top of having a full-time job and a young family. “It grew from upcycling vintage Nike crewnecks and T-shirts back in 2021. I would hand-paint garments and sell them to friends via my personal Instagram account every couple of months. I come from the music and art world, so I had great access to familiar names, which helped it eventually grow into a brand,” said O’Connor.
This brand is “Handmade streetwear for locals. There’s no specific style really — I want to explore all parts of fashion while keeping it authentically Irish,” O’Connor explained. These hand-painted garments often feature iconic Irish artists such as Sinéad O’Connor and Dolores O’Riordan, or iconic symbols such as the claddagh and the harp. These pieces are a way to demonstrate artistic pride in Irish culture. “Music, art, and Irish culture are very important to me, and Worn X Bred allowed me to mash those worlds together in an authentic way. I wanted to create something that could blend into the music and art world without taking from it,” said O’Connor.
Already, the brand has expanded beyond expectations, as people are demonstrating a real interest in both the artistry of the clothes alongside the growing desire to wear Irish symbols and staples. “I hand-make everything here at home, so I keep the numbers of each piece small enough for me to keep up with orders. WXB has really grown over the past couple of months — I wasn’t expecting it to be as successful as it is,” said O’Connor. Despite the demand and his limited time, seeing people where the clothes makes it all worth it. He went on to say, “The biggest success for me personally is seeing it on stage or in the middle of a trad session in a tiny pub somewhere. I’ve also been seeing a lot of Irish speakers wearing WXB on TikTok, which is a big one for me as well”.
The name carries the mission of O’Connor’s work: “When I was upcycling, I would advertise each piece as “pre-worn, bred in Dublin”. It stems from there, really — Worn and Bred. Worn by locals, bred in Ireland”. Supporting local artists is imperative in our modern culture, as authentic, human expression is being eroded. The success of this brand depends on the community’s commitment to supporting one another and affirming artists. O’Connor admitted, “To be completely honest, I didn’t think I would have lasted this long, and I haven’t really thought about the future of the brand”. Yet, the affirmation of artistry and Irish heritage is the most important. “For me, just seeing it embedded in the culture is enough.”
Make sure to follow @wornxbred on Instagram to see the latest pieces and to shop for yourself. Add this streetwear fashion to the latest of Arts Block trends, because investing in community and small businesses is the coolest thing one can do for their wardrobe. O’Connor leaves us with this final message:
“All of the continued support and love shown for WXB means the world to me. Ireland is a tough place for small businesses, so a massive go raibh maith agat for supporting local. Oh — and I hate the colour navy.”
Don’t wear navy, shop local!
