Ajai gets chance to talk Lankan fashion with Duchess of Cambridge
The exhibition at Buckingham Palace
When recently reappointed Commonwealth Fashion Council member, Ajai Vir Singh landed in London late last month, he already had reasons to be excited. Along with his reappointment to the Council, Ajai was invited to attend a reception hosted by the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex at Buckingham Palace for the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange project.
So imagine his surprise when he and the other members of the Council were informed when they arrived in London, that the Duchess and Countess had requested to meet and speak to them personally before the start of the reception at Buckingham Palace. “I was already excited but this was the cherry on top,” says Ajai about the invitation for a private audience.
The Commonwealth Fashion Council (CFC) is a Commonwealth-accredited organisation that seeks to uplift and develop the fashion industries within its 53 member states. The council headed by Daniel Hatton, consists of eight council members, each of whom hold a significant post in their domestic fashion industry or have greatly contributed to its development. Ajai, who is the President of Colombo Fashion Week and a champion for sustainable fashion in the island, is one of four Asian representatives on the Council.
Ajai at the reception with fashion icon Suzy Menkes
The private audience which took place in the White drawing room of the Buckingham Palace was in fact a small and intimate gathering, with only the council members, members of the Royal Family, the editor of Vogue USA, Dame Anna Wintour and founder and creative director of Eco-Age, Livia Firth, in attendance.
In addition, Princess Beatrice accompanied the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex.
The meeting gave Ajai an opportunity to promote the Sri Lankan fashion industry and its initiatives, directly to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. “She was so graceful and attentive. When you speak she really listens to you,” Ajai says. Ajai spoke to the Duchess who is known to back sustainability in fashion and has put her weight behind such movements, of the development in the Sri Lankan fashion industry over the last 15 years, specifically in the area of sustainable fashion. He also spoke to Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, who had recently visited the island, about the movement to merge and incorporate the artisan crafts with the fashion industry. It was an honour to have this opportunity, which he hopes will result in further exposure for Sri Lankan fashion and designers, he says.
Royal entrance: The Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex
The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception took place on February 19, and showcased designs from designers and artisans from the Commonwealth, including Stella McCartney, Bibi Russell and Karen Walker. The reception also saw the likes of Naomi Campbell, Anna Wintour and British Vogue editor Edward Enninful in attendance. The event hosted by the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex, was part of a new initiative to develop greater partnership ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London this April.
As part of its work to advocate and support sustainable development and empowerment in the fashion industries in the Commonwealth, the CFC organised its “100% made in the Commonwealth” exhibition to be held in London during the same period. Under the project, a designer from the Commonwealth is picked by the Council, and is connected with a manufacturer in another Commonwealth country, who will then manufacture the product. The objective of the project is to promote commerce and trade among the Commonwealth fashion industries.
Ajai with the backpack at the ‘100% Made in the Commonwealth’ exhibition at New Zealand House in Soho
This year saw Colombo Fashion Week’s emerging designer and graduate of the University of Moratuwa Vathsala Gunasekara as the chosen designer. Vathsala’s sleek backpack bag design was then made a reality by manufacturers in Chennai, India. The bag which was made using cork material and natural dyes is completely sustainable, and was unveiled for the first time during the London exhibition. In response to the favourable reception the designer bag received plans are afoot to produce and promote the bag in the international market. “I wanted to take a chance with someone who had potential,” says Ajai as he explains why Vathsala was given the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka. He goes on to explain that the depth of her design knowledge and her passion to follow through is why he put his confidence in her.