Arts
Striding out from the ramp
All smiles: Anushika at this year’s CFW
Every year for the past 14 years, newspapers have splashed the highlights of Colombo Fashion Week (CFW). Entry by invitation only, means that for many the opportunity to witness one of Sri Lankan’s biggest fashion events is limited to that of the images featured in the newspapers. Growing up, Anushika Perera remembers leafing through the papers and hoping that one day she too could have her designs grace the CFW catwalk. “It looked so extravagant,” she says.
In 2016, Anushika got her wish when she was selected for the Emerging Designer Showcase. A dream come true as she describes it, it has been life changing. In addition, she was adjudged the Emerging Designer of the year, and awarded the Fashion Design fund to kickstart her career. An award she was surprised to have won, but grateful that she has, as it opened up several doors for her. Being only the third person to win the award and receive the fund, it has given her the recognition and credibility that would otherwise have taken years to build.
Returning to the CFW stage for the second time this March, Anushika presented her collection, inspired by tomorrow, at the 2017 Emerging Designer Showcase. But far from being just another repeat of last year, she found the whole experience new and thrilling. “I knew the process, but each year the concepts are different, the whole environment is a new experience,” she explains.
Anushika believes that clothes should be expressive and illustrative of one’s personality. Not wanting to be typical, she expresses this through dramatic silhouettes and structures, but is reserved and minimalistic in her use of colour and prints. This flair for the dramatic juxtaposed with her need to remain simple and minimalistic saw asymmetric silhouettes in tones of white and grey with pops of earth-toned colours–a collection that appeared to be retail ready.
Drawing and sketching since she was a child, Anushika, now 24 was always interested in engaging in creative pursuits. Whilst schooling at Ladies’ College, this interest was supported and nurtured by her teachers, who pushed her to explore different creative avenues. Upon completing her Advance Level examinations, Anushika was selected to pursue a degree at the Department of Integrated Design of the University of Moratuwa. Specializing in Fashion and Lifestyle Accessory Design, she completed her degree late last year, and is now an instructor at the University for its Department of Integrated Design .
Having explored the fashion industry and design from an academic view point, Anushika was given an insight into the realities of the industry in both the Sri Lankan and International context when she joined CFW’s Project SEVEN. An initiative by the founder of CFW, Ajai Vir Singh, this creative development programme aims to strengthen designers’ ideation process. A series of workshops takes the participants through the practical aspects of the industry. The experience changed her perspective when viewing things from a designer’s angle, but she also felt that it changed the way she viewed life in general.“Certain exercises were not only useful for fashion but could be used in life too,” Anushika states.
Having gained so many experiences in the industry, Anushika was keen to share her knowledge and one way in which she does this is in her role as an instructor at the University of Moratuwa. Here, Anushika must play the role of a mentor to her students, guiding them through their assignments. A task that can at times be very strenuous, but one she enjoys thoroughly.
Though thankful for all the opportunities that she has received she notes that making it in the fashion industry here has its challenges -“You constantly have to keep up with the changes,” she says. For now Anushika’s plans involve working on her career, developing her brand MOJO, and expanding her portfolio. Her designs retailing under the brand name MOJO are available at PR, the fashion retail arm of Paradise Road, located at No. 41, Horton Place, Colombo 7.
Minimalistic use of colour and prints: Anushika’s creations at CFW 2017
