Arts
Up and Coming Designer of the Year quarter finals tonight
View(s):Zainab Ammarah’s ‘Sri Lanka’s Up and Coming Fashion Designer of the Year 2015’ will be held for the seventh consecutive year with the quarter finals being worked off tonight, October 25.
Taking a bow: Last year’s first runner-up Abiram Gunarajah
Kamsins is the main sponsor for this year’s show with Jewel Arena as co-sponsor and official jewellery sponsor.
The brainchild of Zainab Ammarah the contest was designed as a platform for young aspiring designers. “It is with joy that we unveil the seventh edition of one of the most anticipated events by an amateur designer.
Once an aspiring designer myself, I realised Sri Lanka had a lot of latent talent who merely needed the opportunity to showcase their abilities, and it was the main reason for establishing the award for the country’s Up and Coming Designer of the Year.
Since its inception, the initiative has impacted on the lives of all the designers who have participated, creating a pathway for them to liaise with leading international buying houses and providing inspiration to create their own design labels,” Zainab said.
Interest in the event has grown with participation from around the country including urban and rural areas as well as leading design schools and universities.
The winner will receive an air ticket to Paris from Timex Garments, an internship from Hidramani Group, Rs. 300,000 worth phone App and a Rs. 200,000 worth e-commerce based website designed and developed by Erbenlab, Rs. 200,000 worth contracts to create a fashion portfolio by Praveen Rodrigo and Ramzi’s Hair and Beauty Salons, and Rs. 50,000 worth of printing material for the winner’s brand by Yaseen’s Computerized Graphics.
PR Wire will help further extend their brand profile in a global platform with a service offering of LKR 1,000,000.
Looking back on winning the title last year, Danushika Welagedara said the trip to Europe enlightened her fashion sense. “Due to the popularity I gained through the show I am able to do custom designing and I am planning to launch my own brand soon,” she added.
Other event partners include Official Hair & Makeup Ramzi’s Hair and Beauty Salons, Official Venue Partner – Waters Edge, Technology Partner – Erbenlab, Official Photography partner – Praveen Rodrigo, Official Print Partner – Yaseen’s Computerized Graphic with PR Wire supporting the event as the Official PR Partner.
The grand finale of the contest will take place on November 30 at Waters Edge. For more information see the official event Facebook page – www.facebook.com/zainabammarah.