CFW: Rekindling pride in local labels
View(s):By Duvindi Illankoon
When Colombo Fashion Week 2013 came to a close last Friday with Darshi Keerthisena, its final act, there was thunderous applause and had it been fashionable to give a standing ovation, the entire audience would have done so. In its 10th year Colombo Fashion Week, by anyone’s standards, was an unmitigated success.
A triumph: ARRA’s designers Sharmila Ruberu and Punya Athukorala receiving the P&G Gen-Next award from Bibi Russell and Nish de Gruiter
With its youth-centric theme, CFW was very much in danger of falling victim to an old cliché. The shows, however, didn?t disappoint. Over the three days of the show (April 3,4 and 5), a handpicked selection of emerging young talent from Sri Lanka and the sub-continent were seasoned with the best of the industry, making all three days a refreshing change from the same tired old faces.
Newcomer Amanda Weerasinghe’s debut collection complete with ves-muhunu earrings, the suave Nish de Gruiter of Suitsupply, Ashikur Rahman Pony, Sounak from House of Three and designer for the stars Radhika Perera-Hernandez thrilled the audience with their fresh collections on the ramp.
On Day 3, Bibi Russell, Arugam Bay, U by Upeksha, Colombo Jewellery Stores, Hameedia and Yoland (this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Award), and of course Darshi Keethisena were labels that made a triumphant return to CFW, presenting their latest collections with characteristic aplomb.
Sri Lankan duo Sharmila Ruberu and Punya Athukorala are the faces behind ARRA, a collection with a continental touch at the show. Their dramatic designs beginning with stark white and ending in black garnered them the prestigious P&G Gen-Next Award. Indian duo Jason and Anshu (the faces behind Smallshop) and House of Three’s Sounak were two other well received designers on that day.
Compere Dino Corea-an invisible voice to the audience-was a pleasure to listen to, with that rare talent for knowing when to stop talking. He was joined occasionally by one of the main men behind the show Prasad Bidapa; the often hilarious, unfailingly polite and highly entertaining presenter introduced designers well.
 Eternal elegance: A Batik saree by Darshi Keerthisena. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara |
 Bibi Russell: Colourful return to CFW |
 Still in the forefront of design: A Yolande creation |
Ajai Vir Singh, Founder and Director of the Colombo Fashion Week and main man along with Prasad and Dirk Flamer Caldera, reflecting on CFW 2013 said that while he was not entirely content with the show he was quite happy with how it turned out. “Being the 10th year we wanted to make it special for the young line-up of designers. That was well received,” he said. “CFW carries the weight to represent and showcase Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry with a top class showing and that was achieved. International media find our format quite revolutionary so now we stick to this format. We are very conscious of the fact that we have to be the best production in Asia and we are doing that. You will see it get better.”
He’s happy with the overall impact that CFW continues to have on the fashion design industry of Sri Lanka, he adds, concluding “above all I’m thrilled with the fact that we have been able to build pride in wearing Sri Lankan brands and labels.” And that, perhaps, is Colombo Fashion Week’s greatest achievement.
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