Men can be trendy too
Gihan
When HSBC Colombo Fashion Week opens this week, fashion- watchers will see a new focus: Menswear.
February 25 is the day to celebrate men’s fashions and President of CFW Ajai Singh’s decision to highlight the long overlooked market is in fact, a move to bring the local fashion front in step with the international scene.
As prominent world stages like those of Paris and London Fashion Weeks kickstarted the fashion year with menswear shows, local designers too will present their menswear collections.
A pioneer in the male apparel industry in this country, Fouzul Hameed has always been a distinguished presence on the CFW stage, for various resort wear and spring-summer editions. This time, we learn that CFW’s commitment to zoom-in on the array of styles for men could possibly go deeper.
Designer Kasun Gunawardena’s collection for CFW is inspired by a few solitary days he spent in a cottage on the East coast. “I wore a conical farmer’s hat, shorts and an oversized shirt” he says, of his brief yet enlightening escape.
“My brand is about solitude, appreciating oneness and individuality” which he says was abundant in his solo trip to Batticaloa. “I wanted to recreate that moment again on the ramp with this collection.”
As someone with a visual identity, famously spotted in “shorter shorts” and loose-fitting tunic-like shirts, individuality, he feels, is a huge void here.
At the same time, “You don’t need to be loud in order to be heard,” he says – wearing flashy clothes doesn’t necessarily translate to being different.
Keeping to ethically sourced organic fabrics, Kasun’s designs are inspired by shades of the ocean and sand. Known for his love of handlooms he says this time, he’s working with printed georgette for this breezy line.
Shanika
Heshan De Silva hopes to unveil a collection inspired by the trippy 70’s but there’s a twist – he’s incorporating darker Goth tones. It’s easy to feel restricted when designing for men, he feels. Orange, black metallic fabrics and embellishments will add vibrancy to his collection titled- 2202, after his birthday.
A designer who has previously dressed the CFW stage with laser-cut shirts, bold prints and bigger colours, Heshan has built an identity for himself as the king of colour blocking for menswear with shoes to go with his look, “because I love shoes”. This time he may include some bags as well, he says.
“We don’t take enough risks” he observes of the unadventurous approach people tend to have. “I have people telling me they like my work but wouldn’t wear it” but there’s a more accepting attitude he says when it comes to women’s wear.
Retailing in Australia where he studied fashion design, Heshan says, “You get people who only do street-wear or formal-wear but niche markets for men here haven’t taken-off.”
When we met Shanika Samarakkody last, she was a student at Raffles Design Institute, showing us sketches of her work as a featured emerging designer at CFW. Now she’s a fully- fledged fashion designer and has graduated on to CFW’s main stage. It’s been about one and a half years since her retail label, Agent, was established.
Heshan
Shanika has decided to go Gatsby with her menswear, inspired by 1920’s men’s fashion, incorporating also prints, patterns and colourful material.
From formal to smart-casual wear, the dapper look is in trend now. In their effort to incorporate vintage elements she’s seen even hair done in that style. Men are catching-on she says. “They’ve searched for looks and are influenced by things like social media.”
Personally opting for classic, clean cuts, her focus lies with the understated elegance in the simplicity with which a garment sits on its wearer. Style comes with self-awareness which is still lacking in Shanika’s opinion. For instance, “Not everyone can pull-off slim fit shirts.”
Gihan Ediriweera is yet another seasoned designer producing a line of men’s attire. Making pieces he would like to wear himself, he feels the disparity in men’s and women’s fashions is unnecessarily glaring.
His quest for gender equality in terms of fashion includes his trade-mark tie and dye staining methods against pale whites and greys.
Gihan’s clothes have always been eco-friendly and climate appropriate. Encouraging men to choose attire with a more adventurous local touch, he says, after all, men have an equal right not only to be comfortable but look fashionable too.
Kasun