Light and flowing

By Duvindi Illankoon, Vinusha Paulraj and Purnima Pilapitiya

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CFW Resort Wear DAY 2:
Colombo Fashion Week took its Resort Wear show to the atmospheric heritage city of Galle over three days last weekend. Day One was dedicated to highlighting the Bright Sparks, designers who had promising talent in abundance.

Initially planned to be an evening of high fashion under the stars at the Moon Bastion, Day 2’s line-up was ushered indoors, as the possibility of showers loomed large.

The stage was set at Jetwing’s Lighthouse Hotel resembling a no-fuss international ramp. Models walked at ground-level adding to the glamorously breezy vibe of exclusive vacation wear.

Light, transparent materials were the favourite among designers of this evening. Cropped short, or trailing behind, most pieces were tropics-friendly.

Tie-dyes, staining techniques and kaftans were staples in most collections, like that created by Yasisurie Kiribandara. Almost cheesecloth-thin fabrics on models sporting white headbands and nude shoes accompanied her pieces.

Others brought out classical pieces with a quirky twist. Catherine Rawson’s Old Railway label featured precisely tailored jackets with a vintage touch, paired with quirky accessories.

Woven head-pieces, technicoloured brooches and umbrellas added spunk to the subtle cloudy colour palette. Designing exclusively for men, Fouzul Hameed’s FH Studio Collection broke away from convention.

Kasun

Presenting 3 different moods, including bright floral print on shirts, the ensemble showcased airy linen blazers as well. Ankle length pants with accented cuffs offered playful pops of colour to the casually cool pieces.

Peronie Stefel’s collection struck a more regal chord. Dark mossy greens, fading into white blues and elegantly stained gold hues dressed her models.
The collections of Charini and Kasun rang close to home with their choice of fabrics and colour scheme. Kasun’s signature use of calm, earthy toned handloom was a refreshingly calm take on beachwear.

A soothing pink handloom jacket and suit added a hint of youthful sophistication while the young designer played with colour pairings to lend the entire segment a fun and laid back vibe.

Charini’s batik dresses and kaftans flounced through the room in waves of colour. Maxis draped to figure hugging silhouettes, the vibrant collection was reminiscent of a coral reef full of exotic fish, while embellishments lent a glamorous touch.

Closing Day 2 was CFW regular Lars Anderson. His take on holiday wear harked back to the dark, haunting countryside of his native Sweden.

A sharp contrast compared to the other collections, models swaddled in knitted cardigans and cover ups in white, grey and black. Knitted shorts were an unusual sight but translated his vision for casual wear.

FH Collection

Stefel by Peronie

Charini Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara

Bold colours of elegance

CFW Resort Wear Day 3:
Harare marked the start of the Resort wear finale with a collection that favoured simple prints or solid colours for a casual yet elegant look.

Indi

New York city-based designer Caroline Fuss chose to define her collection with shorts, summery dresses and tops and casual pants.

Echoing somewhat the same colour palette of yellows and whites was Ramona Oshini, whose collection ‘Island Paradise’ drew its inspiration from the Niyagala flower, or the Glory Lily and used techniques such as batik shibori and dip dye.

Sisters Najila and Ruzla returned to the ramp after the CFW Spring/Summer edition in March with their label KOCA; the collection included floral art and block prints, with the monochrome designs emerging a strong frontrunner.

Conscience partnered with Land Rover for a collection in white and khaki green using starkly masculine cuts manipulated for a feminine silhouette effect.

Ramp favourite INDI collaborated with skincare brand Vaseline for ‘Coral Escape’. At a briefing before the show designer Indeevari Yapa Abeywardena together with representatives from Unilever Sri Lanka explained that the collection was inspired by women with a passion for the outdoors.

In conjunction with its launch at CFW Vaseline will also host a competition to select winners, who will have the opportunity to take part in one of three excursions planned with actress Pooja Umashankar.

Harare

At CFW Indi’s collection brightened up the runway considerably-there was nothing restrained about the designer’s colour palette as the five showstoppers stalked down the ramp in creations with an element of theatre.

Taking the ramp after the break was first time international guest Dan Single. Hoodies and ripped jeans marked the trendy young globetrotter image of his brand SINGLE.

The bold tribal and camouflage prints demanded all the attention desired of a loud young insurgent. Following his lead was Ari’ el; the brainchild of Sonali Dharmawardena and Radhika Mendis.

The denim clad models floated with all the whimsy of the children of the 60s’ hippie movement; complete with flowers in their hair.

Day 3’s designers didn’t hold back colour. Taking his vision for resort wear to the sunny Mediterranean was G by Gihan Ediriweera.

Strains of Nancy Sinatra’s sultry “Summer Wine” was the obvious soundtrack for his collection inspired by the varying wines of the Mediterranean. U by Upeksha Hager was another original take on resort wear.

Her dramatic use of colour was a feature of her design. Rich browns, striking greens were balanced with cloudy blues and whites; taking the “holiday getaway” deep into thick jungle and virgin springs.

Conscience

Moulded into soft feminine silhouettes it was one of the evening’s standouts.

Returning to the Resort Wear ramp for a quirky finale was smallshop by Indian duo Jason and Anshu. Although the background music was at times off balance and distracting, the finale collection was upbeat, soft and alight with colour; the embodiment of a wanderlust filled traveller.

Ajai Vir Singh-President, Colombo Fashion Week was buoyed by the success of the Resort wear show. “CFW resort wear is a testimony of the step that Sri Lankan designers have taken towards specializing in a category that is so relevant to Sri Lanka.
Resort wear is a growing category and CFW has taken the bold step of creating a strong niche for Sri Lankan fashion designers in the region.

“This year Sri Lankan designers designed for three seasons and this is also expanding and defining their body of work. It gives me immense pleasure to see the direction we’re going in and it will definitely make a global impact.

It is also a testimony to God’s goodness. CFW is a direct representation of where the Sri Lankan fashion industry is going,” Ajai said.