Having designed for Bambie Thug, the barber/designer is determined to push the boundaries of art and fashion Barber and designer Paul Mac Special. Photo: David Murphy Hair/headpiece/creative direction: Paul Mac Special. Photo: Kest.
Make-up: Liam Bee. Editing: Ryan L Designs. Model: Minnie Marley.
Hair/headpiece/creative direction: Paul Mac Special. Photo: Kest. Make-up: Liam Bee.
Editing: Ryan L Designs. Model: Jena Keating Bambie Thug in Sunday Independent's Life magazine. Photo: Evan Doherty.
"I’m a barber day to day, but I’ve always been into creative and editorial work,” Paul Mac Special says. “During lockdown I watched McQueen, the Alexander McQueen documentary on Netflix, and saw his collaboration with Irish milliner Philip Treacy in the 1990s. I was just blown away and I knew I wanted to try it.
With everything shut down during Covid-19 I had all the time in the world to learn.” The avant-garde designer found a connection to his past through his work. “My grandmother was a dressmaker.
I think that’s where I get my creativity from. Although she died when I was quite young, I later realised she was a night owl just like me,” Mac Special says. “I start working at midnight and I can be up to 3 or 4am.
I feel a lot more creative than in the day time.” Bambie Thug in Sunday Independent's Life magazine. Photo: Evan Doherty.
As the witching hour is when Mac Special experiences his creativity, it’s no surprise he has collaborated with mystic singer Bambie.