10/05/2026
This is Oscar Lai — Founder of Ecoset.
(This is a long one…)
Born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (that’s a lot of B’s 😄), Oscar was the only Chinese kid growing up in a mainly Irish and Italian neighbourhood, so he was surrounded by Irish influences from early on.
At 15, his mum kicked him and his brother out of their home. Thankfully, his best friend’s mum took him in and gave him a safe place to stay while he tried to figure things out.
Now that we have teenage sons of our own (same age), this is so hard to comprehend. Those years are a vulnerable time in a young person’s life, when they need their parents most.
He never got to finish high school & college just wasn’t an option. He started working in restaurant kitchens when he wasn’t even legally allowed to! He worked hard, learned his craft, and became a talented chef, eventually becoming Head Chef.
In his early noughties, he moved to Dublin and helped set up “Brasserie 66” and “Corner House Grill”. His cooking later caught the attention of RTÉ, and he became a resident chef on “The Afternoon Show” for five seasons. He also became Executive Chef.
After a lifetime in kitchens, he wanted a change.
In 2019, the idea for Ecoset was born. In 2020, we finally got time to focus on Ecoset the brand, and what it could be.
Oscar bought a laser engraving machine so he could personalise our products and taught himself how to use it. We set up a workshop at home and off we went.
Six years later, Ecoset is now a trusted Irish brand, stocked in cafés, gift shops, sports clubs, and attractions across Ireland. We also supply brands including Barry’s Tea, Pfizer, ESB, Kerry Group, KPMG, Novartis, and the list keeps growing. 💫
This is all down to Oscar’s hard work and the way he connects with people. He has put his heart and soul into this.
With the Leaving Cert just around the corner, it’s important to know there are many different ways to success. The most important thing is being a good person and working hard and somehow things will work out.☺️
Final word of thanks to all our amazing customers for every order, recommendation, and kind word..it means the world to us. ❤️
