Dublin-born designer Simone Rocha has always been notoriously private about her personal life.

So it's no surprise that she kept news of her first pregnancy secret until just two months before her due date, choosing to casually reveal it during a New York Times interview instead of via social media.

The interview, published this week, reveals that Ranelagh native Simone, is due in November. And as well as the business of becoming a mum for the first time, the young designer also has another extremely important project on the go – her first ever stand-alone clothes store.

For someone who's just celebrating her 29th birthday today (we love her cute nickname), she has achieved a lot so far.

 

Thank you team Ming

A photo posted by SIMONE ROCHA (@simonerocha_) on Sep 11, 2015 at 7:36am PDT

"I’m super thrilled,” she says of the decision to open a Simone Rocha store on London's Mount Street.

"This is a bricks-and-mortar of my identity and my inspirations and my research, and if anything it makes me feel more creative," she says.

For years all of Simone's work has been gearing up to fashion shows that last just minutes, but now she is building a permanent space for her work. "Whereas after a show you feel totally depleted. It just gives the whole collection a sense of place, and a real home," she explains.

Of course, much of Simone's drive and creativity comes from her home life. Her father John Rocha is a famed Irish designer who she ways always instilled a strong work ethic in her.

"There’s been some people in my life that really were very driven, like my family… and that gave me a lot of determination. They’ve always been like, ‘It’s all about your identity, and who you are, and what you want to say.’” she reveals.

Congrats Simone (and Grandad John)!