Sunday Times 2
CFW Day at University of Moratuwa
View(s):Colombo Fashion Week recently held its fourth successful CFW Day as part of its ongoing Designer Development Programme, which aims to nurture the next generation of fashion talent in Sri Lanka. This edition of CFW Day was held at the University of Moratuwa, where fashion
Fashion design students of the University of Moratuwa at CFW Day with Ajai Vir Singh (President, Colombo Fashion Week), Dr. Ujithe S.W. Gunasekera (Head of the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology, University of Moratuwa), fashion designers Yasisurie Kiribandara and Amilani Perera, and the CFW Team.
design students engaged with the CFW team, senior designers and PR partners. The CFW Day participants were able to gain valuable insight into CFW’s work and the fashion industry, and explore different opportunities that are available to them through CFW’s design and retail initiatives.
“CFW Day is very close to my heart and it is a key component of Colombo Fashion Week,” said Ajai V. Singh, President, CFW. “Through this programme, along with the CFW Fashion Design Fund and ‘BrightSpark’ Shows, we are developing the next generation of designers in Sri Lanka, in line with CFW’s overall objectives.”
By hosting CFW Day at leading fashion design institutions in Sri Lanka, CFW hopes to identify 10 new fashion designers, who will be groomed and mentored through an intensive programme in the months leading up to ‘BrightSpark’ Shows, a showcasing of young fashion talent which is held during each season of CFW. These young designers have the rare opportunity of working closely with the CFW team, who guide them through their creative process to produce a standout collection on the runway, and help them learn the inner workings of a fashion week. At the end of the programme, the most promising ‘BrightSpark’ designer is awarded the prestigious CFW Fashion Design Fund, which funds the winner’s entire collection.
Addressing an eager audience of aspiring fashion designers, Singh outlined the role that CFW plays in supporting the growth of the Sri Lankan fashion industry. He emphasised that Fashion Weeks are not a form of entertainment but are an important platform that enables designers to build a solid clientele and gain commercial success, both locally and internationally. CFW is developmental in nature, and is constantly finding new ways to not just showcase the latest designer collections, but also prepare designers to retail their collections and pursue fashion as a serious business.