0:00:07 > 0:00:1020 years ago with the Point Theatre in Dublin,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14a seven-minute interval act at the Eurovision Song Contest changed
0:00:14 > 0:00:17the face of Irish dancing for ever.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21The show was Riverdance
0:00:21 > 0:00:25and it propelled the local dance form onto the world stage.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Encouraging people of all ages, ethnicities
0:00:28 > 0:00:32and backgrounds to don their dancing shoes.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38With the global interest came global influence, mainly from the USA,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41and a marked shift towards brightly coloured,
0:00:41 > 0:00:44heavily embellished costumes, elaborate hair pieces
0:00:44 > 0:00:46and pageant-style make-up.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51For one family in the fashion conscious city of Londonderry,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55the glamour of the Irish dance world has become a way of life.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59MUSIC: "Fashion" by Lady Gaga
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Appearance is very important for me, always has been.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10And it's important for the business.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14When you look your best, you feel your best and you perform the best.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24If I'm coming in to design a dress and I'm wearing mismatched clothes
0:01:24 > 0:01:28and shoes that are maybe ten years old, it doesn't look good.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Shauna and Tomasina have the significance of getting up
0:01:38 > 0:01:40and looking good everyday, whether they were going to work
0:01:40 > 0:01:43or the gym or the chapel, it doesn't matter.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Shauna is a stickler for style, and the services she's providing,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51you couldn't run with a tracksuit on, it just wouldn't be an option.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58We're quite a glamorous family, we love doing our hair
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and make-up and nails when we're not working in the factory.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Ow! No pain, no gain, that's so true.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09People think we're crazy, but I mean, it's Irish dancing.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16MUSIC: "Gucci Gucci" by Kreayshawn
0:02:16 > 0:02:19In the years since Riverdance,
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Irish dancing costumes have come a long way
0:02:21 > 0:02:24and the right dress is a must for any young dancer
0:02:24 > 0:02:25keen to catch the judge's eye.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Irish dance is a performance art
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and the nature of it is, the dancers come out in threes
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and they stand for an eight-bar introduction
0:02:37 > 0:02:38before they start to dance.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40So a judge has a moment to
0:02:40 > 0:02:42look at the three dancers on stage,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46and I suppose in any performance art, aesthetics are important.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52It's not that a costume is ever going to win you a world championships or get you a recall,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55but when there's a competition of 200 kids and there's only 50 recalls,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59a costume can make all the difference.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Irish dance, again, it's a subjective art form.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05One person's too far is somebody else's not enough.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Shauna Shiels has a reputation for pushing boundaries,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13and as a fashion-lover herself,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16keeps a keen eye on what's on the catwalk as well as on stage.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19When my customers come here,
0:03:19 > 0:03:24it's important for them to feel that they're the most special person on that day,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27that every child is treated like a princess or a prince when they come here.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31You ready, Owen?
0:03:37 > 0:03:39- What do you think?- I love this.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43- You like it?- I absolutely love it. - Good.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- It's the green and purple that he wanted.- I love the green and purple.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51You've got a really trendy hairdo. Oh, wow.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Fits perfectly.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57This is the first one this week that fits perfectly.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59The first boys' outfit.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05- It's just wonderful, I love the waistcoat.- Good.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Do you want to try just a wee bit of a dance,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10just to make sure it doesn't manoeuvre too much?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Lovely. You're dancing beautiful.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- What age are you, you're under 13? - Yeah.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31How did you do last year at the Worlds?
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- I came third.- Wow.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- So we're going for... - First.- ..first this time.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41- Happy?- Yeah.- Brilliant.- Perfect. - OK.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Hoo-hoo!
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Despite currently having a global client base,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Shauna's interest in dress designing started close to home.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57And daughter Codie, a former world champion,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59began dancing at a young age.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04I started making costumes about ten years ago.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07I started taking the interest in making costumes.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Codie was the guinea pig.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13She was the first dress that we made from start to finish,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16we done all the ... and the embroidery,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18and that's where it started.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21She came out of the Great Britain's with this new dress,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24the red and white dress over in the factory, with the hearts
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and the orders just started coming in from there.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Shauna started making dance dresses at home in
0:05:30 > 0:05:32the evenings with her friend Katy.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34The children were all still very young,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38so a lot of the hours were getting done really early in the morning
0:05:38 > 0:05:41before they woke up and then really late at night.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43You were coming into your house for dinner
0:05:43 > 0:05:46and there might have been somebody sitting at your kitchen table getting a dress
0:05:46 > 0:05:49and Shauna might have had the dress lying on the table putting diamonds on,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53but you just naturally get used to it after a period of time.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56So after that, I started to employ other people
0:05:56 > 0:05:59because the orders just kept coming.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03So me and my husband then talked about it, this is maybe a year or so down the line,
0:06:03 > 0:06:05it was just getting too big,
0:06:05 > 0:06:09so he gave up his full-time job and he came on board with me.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14But even then, it still wasn't enough, the orders just kept coming.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17From then until now, we've grown much bigger,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20we've expanded to making dresses all over the world, which is amazing.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23We get to travel all over the world as well
0:06:23 > 0:06:27and we're now working out a big factory with 14, 15 staff.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Shauna's workforce is a mixture of experienced family members
0:06:36 > 0:06:39and former Derry shirt factory employees.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Creatively she often collaborates with Belfast-based dress designer
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Gavin Doherty, who's also Codie's teacher.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Shauna always had this self-belief that she could succeed in this
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and she has overcome a lot of hurdles,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57but she's stood tall and she's just come through every single one of
0:06:57 > 0:06:59them to the point now where she's world recognised.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02You could literally be walking through a feis,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05it might be England, America, and they would be saying...
0:07:05 > 0:07:07- AMERICAN ACCENT:- Oh, my God! That's Shauna Shiels!
0:07:07 > 0:07:10..and they would literally run over and be like...
0:07:10 > 0:07:12- AMERICAN ACCENT: - I gotta Shauna dress!
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Shauna has had a last-minute order from a dance school in LA
0:07:17 > 0:07:19and will deliver the dress in person.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22With only measurements and photos to work on,
0:07:22 > 0:07:27Shauna is anxious that the costume will suit nine-year-old Grace.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Grace is a little Chinese child
0:07:30 > 0:07:35and she was adopted by an Irish-American family.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37So I've decided to give her pinks and reds
0:07:37 > 0:07:41and put a lotus flower at the front of her dress.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44But they're not going to get to see the dress until I arrive with it.
0:07:44 > 0:07:49And it is a lot of pressure, but I'm sure that we will handle it.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Irish dance dominates Shauna's business and family life
0:07:55 > 0:07:58and poster girl Codie is fighting her way back from injury with
0:07:58 > 0:08:00the help of her teacher Gavin.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07In the four and a half years she's won the Ulster Championship,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10she's won the Great Britain Championships,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12she's won the All Scotland Championships last year.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16She's fought her way back from injury after injury after injury.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Just before the World Championships last year,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21when we really thought it could have been her year,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24she fractured her foot and was unable to dance, so she's been
0:08:24 > 0:08:28fighting her way back from that just to get the fitness and stamina up.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38I've been dancing with Gavin for five years,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40around five years,
0:08:40 > 0:08:44and it is in Belfast, that's two hours away, nearly, most nights for me,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47but dedication and hard work's the most important thing in dancing.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50And if you want to be the best, you have to go to the best
0:08:50 > 0:08:54and Gavin and his dance school are the best for me.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03It's morning time in Derry
0:09:03 > 0:09:07and the Shiels family are settling down to a variety of breakfasts
0:09:07 > 0:09:10all of which have been prepared by dad JP.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19You get up in the morning, you go to your work, it's Irish dancing,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I travel to Belfast for Codie to practise.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24It's just your life.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Codie is competing in The Gates Of Derry feis tomorrow
0:09:27 > 0:09:29and is on a controlled eating plan.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I've two separate diets, I alternate with them.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35And tomorrow, I have, in the mornings, eggs,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37which today I had porridge.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40And I have a bit of more carbs tomorrow,
0:09:40 > 0:09:42which today I had no carbs, so I don't.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45And Codie's not the only one who's watching what she eats.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Mum Shauna believes that the whole family should eat healthily
0:09:48 > 0:09:50and likes to led by example.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54It's important that I eat healthy.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59I feel if I'm eating healthy, I'm looking after myself.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00I have more energy.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04And when I go to the feises and the competitions I have more energy,
0:10:04 > 0:10:05so I look fresher,
0:10:05 > 0:10:10even though I'm trying to hide all these extra hours of work that I do.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Like the other women in the Shiels family,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Shauna's dog Queenie also likes to look her best.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20Queenie is a wee Coton de Tulear and she's originally from
0:10:20 > 0:10:25Madagascar where the breed is from and they were almost extinct.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27It's very rare to get them.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30And I love dressing her and changing her bows to match the kids
0:10:30 > 0:10:34when they come down to work, to pick up their dress.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36I'll put on a matching bow in her hair.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38If there's a child coming for a yellow dress,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42I'll put a yellow bow on. Red dress, red bow.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Oh! Thank you, Queenie.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Codie's coming to the age now where she's almost finished with her competition.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52And I really think, "Queenie's going to be my next focus."
0:10:52 > 0:10:54I would love to take her to the shows,
0:10:54 > 0:10:59and I have looked up a few different dog shows there and puppy class and things,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03but we just missed them, and she was a wee bit young.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07But I really look forward to start taking her to some competitions.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09I think we've got a winner here.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17It's another busy day in the factory.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20And 12-year-old Sinead has come all the way from Glasgow
0:11:20 > 0:11:23with mum Cara to collect a new dress.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25To complete the look, Sinead is getting her make-up
0:11:25 > 0:11:27and hair styled by Tomasina.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31You don't want to go up on stage
0:11:31 > 0:11:33when everybody else is looking a million dollars and you go up
0:11:33 > 0:11:37looking up like Scraggy Aggie, you want to look your best that you can.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40It makes you feel better, it makes you want to dance better.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43You just feel good.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47- Who does your make-up usually at feises, Sinead?- Maureen.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- Do you not let your mum do it?- No.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Sinead just loves the make-up.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56That's your base done.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00- Once she's got the make-up, I think she feels more confident.- Yeah.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03She's very quiet, Sinead's a very quiet child.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05She's very quiet.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Do you think she'll be able to get up
0:12:07 > 0:12:09and do it without her costume and her wig and her make-up?
0:12:09 > 0:12:11I think it gives her a lot more confidence...
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- To be able to do it.- Yeah.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17When the make-up is on, the lovely dress and the bling
0:12:17 > 0:12:18and that just makes it.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Young children wearing make-up for competitions has become a contentious issue
0:12:26 > 0:12:28and a new ruling due to come in to effect at this year's
0:12:28 > 0:12:32World Championships is not popular with the style setters.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41I just recently have introduced a new ruling on make-up for under ten dancers.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46And the reason we decided on under ten is that from under-11 up,
0:12:46 > 0:12:50more advanced dancers and the cream of Irish dancing will get to
0:12:50 > 0:12:54perform on really major stages such as the World Championships.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58And on those major stages the lights are incredibly bright,
0:12:58 > 0:13:03so we felt that from under-11 up some stage make-up may be necessary.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06And I do feel that with less make-up on their face
0:13:06 > 0:13:12there may be a move towards maybe less in the hair and maybe
0:13:12 > 0:13:17less on the legs and potentially less bling on the dresses.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22It's not just about their steps and their dancing,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25it's about their costume, their hair,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28their make-up, how they feel on the day.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32I mean, there's kids that could not just go up in their ordinary clothes,
0:13:32 > 0:13:33they just couldn't do it.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43I mean, Sinead, she practices all the time, she's so dedicated
0:13:43 > 0:13:46and she deserves the dress, I think.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50And she practices for the dress, she says,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52"I'm going to get a new dress out of this.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55"If I'm really good I'm going to get an extra special dress."
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- Does that feel OK?- Yeah. - Here she comes now.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07- Oh, my goodness!- Oh, Shauna. - It's gorgeous.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12You happy?
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Oh, it's definitely Sinead, all right.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Now you need to dance your wee socks off.- I know.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Codie is also preparing for today's feis
0:14:29 > 0:14:33and despite a prolonged period of injury, she's feeling optimistic.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Well, I've done as much as I can.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40I've been working really hard the past few weeks trying to get
0:14:40 > 0:14:43stamina up and coming back from an injury.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48And just trying to get my dances perfected.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52I'm just hoping to go up and dance my best
0:14:52 > 0:14:59and just show everyone that I'm back and that I'm dancing well and I want
0:14:59 > 0:15:04to keep it that way the rest of the year and I'm ready for the Worlds.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13It's competition time and Shauna has some last-minute advice for Codie.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Use the stage as much as you can.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Stretch on all the bits that you can stretch.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Stretch out them legs. Bye.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Good luck.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29You just know you're saying something to her,
0:15:29 > 0:15:34and it's like, "Yeah right, Mammy. What do you know?"
0:15:34 > 0:15:38MUSIC: "To Build A Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra
0:16:01 > 0:16:04When you're watching your child dance, me anyway,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06I just want her to stay on her two feet
0:16:06 > 0:16:09and manage the dance from start to finish without any problems.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Half the time I don't even hear the music when she's dancing,
0:16:12 > 0:16:14I just see her dancing.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18And I understand how that feels for every parent.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23- How do you feel that went?- Good.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26- That's the one you were a wee bit worried about?- I was, yeah.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- The ankle OK?- Yeah, it's fine.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31That's good, you don't have to worry about it any more then.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33So that's done and dusted.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35New year, new start.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Although Codie's current dress has only had three outings,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Shauna and Gavin have decided it's time to reinvent her look
0:16:43 > 0:16:46and discuss ideas for a new costume.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50I feel like she just needs... She needs it just.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55- I think we just need to change the dress to...- Give her a wee boost.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59- Do you know what I mean?- Aye. I agree. I fully agree with you.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01New year, fresh start, fresh everything.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Fresh start, fresh everything.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Cos I think she just wants to get rid of everything
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- that was to do with 2013. - Totally.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Mum and Gavin's relationship, they're really good.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13When it comes to my dresses they always work together on it
0:17:13 > 0:17:16and they come up with the most outstanding dresses.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20I think everyone just waits for my next dress and be like, "Wow."
0:17:20 > 0:17:22See here, I would...
0:17:22 > 0:17:26nearly not use any stones on this bit and hardly any on here
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- and just maybe even do... - Red on red.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Yeah, and do all this red on red so that it's really bold looking
0:17:33 > 0:17:38and do all the stones up on this bit, so that that bit actually stands out.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41It's not just about the glitz and the glamour for Codie,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44it's about the hard work and everything that has to go in.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47She's not getting to go out on a Saturday night with her friends
0:17:47 > 0:17:50to go out and buy new outfits to go out,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53so the costume and getting dressed up and getting her wig on,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55her make-up, it's very important for them.
0:17:55 > 0:18:01They feel that this is the payback for the hard work that they've done.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06All the hours of practice seem to have paid off today
0:18:06 > 0:18:09as Codie scoops some more silverware for her collection.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11In third place, number 501.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18I'm on first in my age group and then I got fourth overall,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20so yeah, I'm happy.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23First feis back in three months, so yeah, went all well.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Back at the factory and with feis season well under way,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33it's been a busy time of year for the Shiels family.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Shauna has been working on Grace's dress
0:18:35 > 0:18:38and it's finally time to head to California to meet with
0:18:38 > 0:18:40the family and show them the finished product.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44We're the Reynolds family, we're a small family.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48It's Chris, myself and our daughter Grace.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51And Grace is nine years old.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56She started taking Irish dance classes
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and it has just continued as has her passion for it.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15This whole Irish dance experience has been a great one for Grace, me
0:19:15 > 0:19:17and Chris to do as a family.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22She's made so many friends and they feel like family now.
0:19:24 > 0:19:30And I think the addition of the solo dress is, you know,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32it's a personal milestone for her.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Shauna and Tomasina have arrived in California and are making
0:19:39 > 0:19:42their way to Sacramento to unveil Grace's new dress.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51To get the full effect, Grace has her make-up done by Tomasiina.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Last but not least.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02We'll get on your dress and you can see your overall look.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12And the make over's completed just in time for Grace
0:20:12 > 0:20:15to perform at the US Western Region Oireachtas.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41APPLAUSE
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- Terrific. That was wonderful. - Yeah.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49It's prize giving time in Sacramento
0:20:49 > 0:20:51and Grace finds herself in the top two,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53nervously awaiting the judges verdict.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55And in second place...
0:20:58 > 0:20:59..127.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05First place goes to Grace Reynolds.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10It's been a successful day with Grace taking first place
0:21:10 > 0:21:12in one of her competitions
0:21:12 > 0:21:15and Shauna's dress design is also a resounding hit.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18But there's no time to rest on her laurels
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and once back in Derry, Shauna sets to work on Codie's new dress.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25And after a year plagued by injury and disappointment,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Shauna is keen to create a head-turning look for her.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35This is what I'm planning on doing with Codie's skirt -
0:21:35 > 0:21:37to give it like a feller look.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41A few years ago, Codie and a couple of other dancers
0:21:41 > 0:21:46came out in fellers at the Worlds and then after that they were banned.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50So I want the feller look and I want people look at it and go,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53"Is that fellers, is that not fellers?"
0:21:53 > 0:21:55But I know it's not fellers.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58We want the effect that this dress, when she's dancing,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00that the dress and the fabric is dancing with her.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03It's nice to do it a wee bit different
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and have something different and have people looking at it.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Today is the morning of the All Scotland Championships in Glasgow
0:22:13 > 0:22:16and it's not just the girls who are keen to look their best.
0:22:18 > 0:22:24The boys' costumes have really swung wildly in the last number of years.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29And we saw a move from the kilt, which was very much in vogue,
0:22:29 > 0:22:34until probably the mid-'90s and then in the mid-'90s the
0:22:34 > 0:22:36first boy came out wearing trousers.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40And from that we saw the move then from a simple shirt and tie
0:22:40 > 0:22:44into more elaborate costumes, waistcoats,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47jackets and then they became to be embroidered
0:22:47 > 0:22:49and then came the diamonds.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53You get a lot of abuse sometimes for doing Irish dancing,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55and all the sparkle and all, they don't help it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59All the boys now are wearing these...
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Like, if you were wearing a plain costume
0:23:01 > 0:23:06and everybody else is all shiny, you look like a spare thumb.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14A local dressmaker called Celtic Yarns designed my dress.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17My mum designed my dress... My dress!
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Oh, my God, man, this is terrible!
0:23:24 > 0:23:27I see a lot of jackets that are covered in embroidery
0:23:27 > 0:23:29and covered in stones.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Personally, it wouldn't be what I like.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35I like the boys when they go on stage to look like boys
0:23:35 > 0:23:40and not to look like the bodice of a girl's costume.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56If I had my choice I would probably wear something plain,
0:23:56 > 0:24:01no sparkle or anything on it, just nice and plain.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03With the men, yeah, it's different
0:24:03 > 0:24:06because we have to be a lot louder cos if there's three of us
0:24:06 > 0:24:09on stage and everyone's trying to make as much noise as possible,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11then you've got to be try and louder than them.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13So they're not going to just watch you
0:24:13 > 0:24:15because you're wearing a nice costume.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18But with girls, someone walks in with a nice costume,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20everyone's going to be watching them.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Meanwhile Codie and Shauna are at their hotel
0:24:24 > 0:24:27preparing to debut the new design.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30But disaster has struck and Codie may not dance.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35It's Friday, and we have an hour and a half before Codie's competition,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39the All Scotland, and it's not looking very good at the minute.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42We travelled over yesterday and she had a bit of a sore throat, sore ear,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45but the whole night long she's been up with a really high
0:24:45 > 0:24:49temperature and crying in her sleep with the pain in her ear.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53She has come round a bit, but she's still in a lot of pain.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57So I've been texting her dance teachers to see what should I do
0:24:57 > 0:25:01and they think bring her over and see where we go from there.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11It's going to be harder than usual being sick.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I've had injuries as well with dancing,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19it's just having to get up and get on with things, so you do.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23So I'll be fine.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Will the prospect of turning heads in a new dress be enough
0:25:25 > 0:25:27to bolster Codie's confidence?
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Nobody knows now at this stage whether she's going to dance or not.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33It's her decision.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38MUSIC: "Young And Beautiful" by Lana Del Ray
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Hoping for a miracle, Codie tries her best to warm up.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06But even her new dress can't make her feel better.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09- Just take it off her. - That's it done.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11I'll make the decision for you, it's done.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Until you're watching your child giving four,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23five hours a day some days, it is hard and their dreams are shattered.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26And she wanted to come back and defend her wee title this year,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28but it just wasn't meant to be.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32And it's heartbreaking and I'm trying to put a brave face on for her.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Like, inside, I feel my whole inside's just pulling apart.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44It's breaking for her, and I don't want to get upset in front of her.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47It isn't very nice.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Heartbroken, Codie withdraws from the competition
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and swiftly removes the dress before it can be copied.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Back home, life at the factory resumes as normal
0:27:10 > 0:27:13and Shauna contemplates how far the business has come.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19I haven't had time to really think back over the last couple of years.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22But when I actually go back and think back, I get the goose pimples,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25I really do, it's like the hairs stand on me back.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Just thinking that I was a wee nobody that really never thought that
0:27:29 > 0:27:32I was ever going to have me own business.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35And as my husband keeps saying, "Shauna, you're an entrepreneur.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37"You're a designer,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40"you're travelling all throughout the world, you're doing amazing."
0:27:40 > 0:27:44And when I think of it like that, I really do, I feel like,
0:27:44 > 0:27:46oh, God, I have to pinch myself.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49And despite the disappointment of Glasgow,
0:27:49 > 0:27:53Shauna has found a silver lining and a new product line -
0:27:53 > 0:27:57a miniature version of their own dress for every client.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03And like the rest of the Shiels' girls,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07Queenie is only too happy to model the latest Shauna creation.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11MUSIC: "Happy" by Pharrell Williams