MCDT was founded over 36 years ago and prides itself on its team of highly skilled and experienced tutors who have worked in the fashion industry for many years. During that time we have seen students of all skills and experience from the beginners to the advanced comes through our doors and more recently join us online. We keep our classes small to be able to provide the one to one attention needed to get the best from our students. Our students come from all walks of life with a wide variety of ambitions, from those that are in the mood to try a new hobby to those determined to make a career in fashion. Our desire is to impart as much knowledge as possible and have a little fun along the way.
Founder and tutor Mary Cashman had a unusual route to Fashion via a career in nursing. 40 years ago, juggling 2 children and night shifts, Mary decided to change direction and pursue her love of fashion. It was finally in 1988 when Mary realised her dream by opening up her own college where she could pass on her skills and knowledge to others. When Mary choose the location of Mallow in North Cork for the college, friends and family were nervous on whether her business was suited to such a location. Fast forward over 30 years and with students that have come via trains from Cork City, carpools from Kerry and even buses from Galway she no longer gets questioned on Mallow as a location. Mary loves to teach and have a laugh on the way! She is the driving force behind the success of the college with the help of her long suffering husband.
They say ‘Those who can’t do teach’ but that is certainly not the case for Sue Pearce owner of Sue Pearce Couture producing handcrafted bespoke bridal and evening gowns from her studio in Cork. With an education in Art, the creative flare Sue has brought to the college for over 23 years, is evident in spades. With a fastidious eye for detail, she guides her students through the challenges of pattern drafting, design and creative art. And just like Mary and Jess she believes in having a laugh as you learn.
Jess can attest to the create education that MCDT provides as she in fact started off her journey many moons ago at the college. After the college she started her own business designing luxury women’s wear which she happily pursued for a number of years. However, with the pressure of jugging a business with being a mom, Jess took what she believed would be much needed break until Mary convinced her to teach the “odd class here and there at the college”. It wasn’t long before Jess was hooked and for 0ver 14 years now she has worked alongside Mary and Sue lighting up the classrooms with her terrific sense of humour and her passion for quality design.
