Born on St. Patrick’s Day and growing up in an Irish Catholic family, Pat McDonagh attributes her talents to her mother Josephine, who, without any training, made all the clothing for her family, neighbours, and all who asked. From the of 3, Pat chose fabrics, helped with fittings and chose styles for herself as well as her siblings.

After attending University in England and Paris, Pat went on to become a model, TV celebrity, and then designer. Arriving in Canada in the late 60’s with her three children; Domenic, Kate, and Louisa, she quickly made her mark on the Canadian Fashion scene, opening her first Boutique The Re-Establishment during the boutique phenomena of the late 70’s.

She went on to win many awards including the New York Times award for Design Excellence and the prestigious American Legend Fur award in Frankfurt. Pat also received the “Judy” award for her contribution in putting Canadian design on an international level as well as an award-winning shoe for the Bata Shoe Museum. Over the 70’s and 80’s Pat won 9 EEDE Excellence of Design awards, and won many Wool Mark awards. In April 2002, Pat won the international NAFA fur award presented at the Montreal international fur show. In June 2002, her designs were chosen to dress the winner of the Elite Model Contest in Beijing, China. Her clothes were shown on national Chinese television before the Prime Minister of China to a standing ovation. All the international media including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar covered the event. In August 2002, the collection was chosen to be shown in St. Petersburg, Russia. Mercedes Benz showed the collection at a gala, October 2002, in Hong Kong. Finally, garments were chosen for the Swarovski Crystal Opening in Toronto, of November. Pat McDonagh is a Matinee 2002 International winner, and a 2003 recipient for the award of Lifetime Achievement presented on behalf of the Fashion Industry at Fashion Week.

2008 marked her 40th Anniversary and at the end of her Fall show, Robin Kay, president of the FDCC, presented her with a special award to mark this milestone.

Pat McDonagh is a dynamic designer who is always a step ahead of the pack, yet never so far ahead that we lose touch with her. Her designs are youthfully Avant-Garde, but still retain an earthy, classic feel, often tinged with romanticism. The celebrity personalities whom she has dressed include; Margaret Trudeau, Cher, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Rigg in the Avengers series, The Beatles, HRH the late Diana Princess of Wales, actress Deborah Kara Unger (Crash, The Game), actress Maria DelMar (Blue Murder), actress Wendy Crewson (Air Force One, Corrinna Corrinna), Amy Sky, Jazz singer Carol Weltzman, Patricia Arnold ( lead singer for J.J. Waters), governor general Michaëlle Jean and has dressed every Canadian rose of Tralee for the last ten years.