When Tipperary Crystal launched its first Louise Kennedy Tipperary Giftware Collection in the spring of 1999, the range surpassed its entire sales target for the year in just two months. The involvement of designers like Kennedy and John Rocha, who teamed up with Waterford Crystal, increased the appeal of crystal to a new generation of buyers.

Now Tipperary Crystal has launched a new Louise Kennedy collection designed to complement the existing Earth Star, Sea Aster and Spindle Tree ranges.

The range represents a departure from traditional heavy cut crystal with increas-ingly modern minimalist and elegant lines. The new collection is a series of larger giftware pieces, including vases, bowls, carafes, a decanter and centre tray which can be used as stand-alone pieces or to complement an existing collection.

"I focus on larger gift items and describe them as giftware because they are the perfect gift. I see them in the same way as I perceive my glassware -- as part of life to be used and enjoyed," says Kennedy.

The Louise Kennedy brand was originally entitled Glass Lives as part of an effort to reflect the natural elements of the products. This was in keeping with Kennedy's belief that crystal should be "part of life, of living, of pleasure -- rather than something to be admired from afar".

For the next six weeks, the new pieces collection will be available exclusively at Brown Thomas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. After that, they will be available nationally from all Louise Kennedy Tipperary Crystal stockists and from the recently launched Tipperary Lifeware store at 53 Dawson Street in Dublin.

Tipperary Lifeware, designed by NBK Designs, opened in July as part of the company's efforts to take the Tipperary brand to a new level. In addition to offering various Tipperary Crystal products, the store stocks an array of elegant household and personal gifts from around the world.

These include an African wood collection, ware from Mexico, Newbridge pottery, Italian vases, a collection of silver and an interesting line of giftware suitable for men.

"They are unusual gift items that hopefully you won't see in any other store. At the same time, it all complements Louise Kennedy's Tipperary Crystal -- our core product is the crystal," says manager Louise Doyle.