Budding designers
It’s that time of year when students of design at the Moratuwa University have their graduation fashion show and exhibition. There will be 39 students taking part this year- a veritable pool of budding young talent. “Every year the final year students end with a catwalk collection. They find themselves a suitable concept through market research. Each student has to showcase six outfits. We will also be awarding seven awards based on the fashion show.
This programme allows the students to be independent as they will be trained from the designing to the manufacture of both the garment used and the outfit. It’s a memorable night for every student because it will be their first experience with professional models,” says senior lecturer of the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology, Thushari Wanniarachchi.
The judges will be Head of Design at Hirdaramani Group, Piumi Perera and Design Director at Buddhi Batiks, Dharshi Keerthisena along with eight lecturers from the university. Among the students selected for the show are: Manoj Akalanka, Panchali Wijetunge, Chamindhi Abeywarna, Binduka Kariyawasam, Faalil Mohamed, Anusari Kodithuwakku, Sudam Dalpathado, Thakshila Weliange, Mihiri Bakmeewewa, Thushani Marasinghe, Diyuni Premachandra, Sachini Koorambegedara, Nethmini Senananda, Thilini Nandasiri, Mihiri Jayaweera, Rasini Kuruppu, Nusky Aduham and Dilan Wijenayake.
The students who will be showcasing their designs at the exhibition are Uthpala Madhuwanthi, Biyanga Subasinghe, Chamindu Amaratunga, Lilakshani Chandrasiri, Subashini Chandrasiri, Himasha Gunasekara, Venya de Silva, Dilini Gunasekara, Shanika Mayadunne, Piyumi Dilhari Fernando, Dasuni Kasunthika, Oshadie Amarasinghe, Deepthi Ganepola, Lakmali Priyadarshani, Swarnamali Perera, Lasika Harshani, Sathiska Rathnasekara, Ayeshmanthi Randeni, Irani Bandara, Manishi Annasi Wattha, Pathma Gunasekara.
Of the total, 18 students, who were chosen from a selection fashion show, will be participating in the fashion show while the rest will show their work at an exhibition. From Kandyan art and Mayan culture to recycled polythene bags and clothes double lined with natural flowers, these talented young designers have found their muse in strange places both from the past and the present. A student has even worked with a material which is interwoven with copper wire. The novelty value apart the shiny cloth stays crumpled or not depending on the look you are going for.
Manoj Akalanka has found his inspiration in a Rock musician of New York and Japanese bondage. He is using bondage and creating a collection which is almost a treatment- meditation through garments. This men’s collection aimed at 25 to 30 year olds. “I have used exaggerated silhouettes and creative pattern cutting. Using colours like black, red and grey, my collection conveys a sense of restriction,” he says.
“I got my inspiration from a travelling girl. She’s virtual because she’s a travel blogger from another country. I was first working with tent structures. My collection is young and customer centred, ideal for girls of 18-23 years. My concept is to stop discarding clothes after using them for about three years. Love your clothes- that’s my concept. I’m using a lot of graphic prints and eye candy colours like pinks and yellows. They are hardy and long lasting but light and funky,” says Chamindhi Abeywarna.
Panchali Wijethunga, a textile design student says she was inspired by the hidden values of Sri Lanka, especially traditional masks. “I based my work around the Dahata Sanniya mask. My collection is name ‘Veiled Dignity’. I have used handloom weaving and have experimented with inserting beads to the weave. I have concentrated more on evening wear and used colours like red, yellow, green and blue for my collection caters to girls of the age of 20-30 years. My customer is an upcoming young actress who loves to travel in Asian countries,” she says.
The Fashion Exhibition will take place at the J.D.A Perera Gallery on Horton Place, Colombo 7 from March 17 till 19. The fashion show will be on March 18 from 7p.m. onwards at the Galadari Hotel Grand Ballroom. Tickets for the fashion show are available at the hotel as well as the university. Entrance is free for the exhibition.