Lankan fashion to get bigger boost with FDCSL
Sri Lanka’s first ever Fashion Design Council (FDCSL) was launched last Tuesday with several stalwarts of the local fashion industry at the helm as members of the executive board. Ajai Vir Singh, Fouzul Hameed, Yoland Aluwihare, Darshi Keertisena, Dirk Flamer-Caldera and Upeksha Hager, all names associated with the Colombo Fashion Week, which just concluded earlier this month are on board but they were quick to emphasise that this initiative has nothing to do with CFW. “It’s an idea that has been in the pipeline for a while,” said Singh. “Fouzul (Hameed) and I have wanted to set up something like this for a few years.”
The time has never been better for an initiative that seeks to help local designers build international labels. “Our designers face a lot of problems here,” noted Hameed, sharing his experience in the industry as a designer and retailer. “There’s a big fabric shortage problem, and designers who try to source materials can sometimes get into a lot of trouble.” Government support for designers is lacking, he added.
FDCSL identifies as key objectives the promotion of Sri Lankan fashion internationally, influencing key stakeholders to create a robust environment for fashion in Sri Lanka, and working with government bodies to create better opportunities. FDCSL will do so with focus on trade fairs, facilitating import/export concessions, marketing and finding a solution to the aforementioned fabric issue. The council, which is not a private entity, will comprise an executive board, a Board of Trustees, founding members, and committees for specific activities. Along with the established designers, FDCSL is open to all graduate designers pursuing a career in the field.
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| Giving a helping hand to local talent: Ajai Singh, Fouzul Hameed and Yoland Aluwihare at the news conference | ||