Now freshers at college, these 19-year-old fraternal twins launched a business idea that they started in their TY year
Windows are dressed, and adding skirts to sofas and kitchen sinks has become commonplace.
Dressing the front door is an idea that has its roots in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, civilisations that all used the wreath motif to symbolise eternity and immortality.
At the winter solstice, the Celts used wreaths of evergreen foliage at a time when the days were at their shortest and there was a thinning of the veil.
Christianity adopted the pagan idea. Its circular shape symbolised hope, renewal, and eternal life.
In the 18th century, Germans began to feature wreaths in their Christmas decorating traditions; The Scandinavians did likewise.
Often adorned with candles and set atop the table, they brought the tradition to the United States, where many of them emigrated.
In the US, the trend graduated from the table to pole position, onto the front door of the residence.
Hanging in such a prominent position, it helps to set the décor mood of everything over the threshold.
And as its popularity has risen, it has moved from being a fundamental element of Christmas to becoming a seasonal idea – a way of adorning the front door and marking the changing of the seasons too.
This seasonality is something Co. Wexford fraternal twins, Aimée and Conor Farrell, have tapped into.
They grew up at the foot of Mount Leinster, in the Blackstairs Mountains.
As kids, they explored nearby Ballycrystal forest, where photographer Ruth Calder-Potts took the shots seen here.
Inspired by the nature they grew up in, they named their company after a branch of science dealing with the relationship between climate and periodic biological phenomena, such as bird migration or plant flowering.
“Mam always had a wreath on the door,” Aimee explains.
Their idea to launch a base that could be accessorised germinated during the transition year at school.
In a move that would make most parents shudder, they launched it while doing their Leaving Cert.
The Phrenology Décor founders are now at college full-time but continue to drive the business on their weekends at home.
Aimée is now studying economics, politics, and law at DCU, while Conor is studying business at IADT, Dun Laoghaire.
They’re in student accommodation Monday to Friday, and on weekends, they travel home and handmake the wreaths.
All the components are stored in their dining room. It takes about two hours to assemble a single wreath base, which comprises greenery and costs €149.
The base is made of evergreen plastic that can be switched up to have multiple looks.
The components and accessories for each look cost a further €25.
These include big, pussy cat bows, autumnal leaves, lights, festive berries, summer lavender, and spring shoots.
Business is on the up. Many shops in Bunclody and Wexford Town now sport one of their designs.
They've hit their sales targets for year one too.
To shop the range, visit Phenology Décor
