Arts

Batik and saffron hues make a splash

By Tera Jayewardene

Swim Week Colombo Luxury Resortwear Edition Day one

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Day One of Swim Week Colombo’s Luxury Resortwear Edition took place on the lawn of the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo on Friday, July 6. This year marked the introduction of resort wear to Fashion Week, giving many new designers the opportunity to showcase their beautifully created resort wear.

Seasand

Yathra Jayawardane was first on the ramp as part of the Emerging Designer segment. Her beautifully designed batik swim and resort wear was a strong start to Swim Week Colombo setting a high benchmark for the rest of the collections that night.

On the ramp were Rumpunch, Koca, Charini, La Pard, Linea Aqua, Seasand and Maus.

Also presenting their collections in the Emerging Designer segment were young designers Marlon Rae and Himashi Wijeweera. The final showcase of the evening was by international designer Heidi Klein Swim, no stranger to the Sri Lankan ramp.

The inspiration for Yathra’s collection is a natural beach chick who gives prominence to the outfit enhanced by the natural, no makeup look. The collection consisted of primarily blue with magenta to make each piece of clothing pop.

“I was so caught up with getting ready for the showcase that it did not hit me that I was going to be showcasing first,” Yathra said, very happy with the end result – that all her hard work was worth it.

Among the collections Koca also stood out for its intricately embroidered resort wear and use of yellow and white dandelion prints. The collection had a delicate but dynamic feel, dandelion prints, lace and other elements mixed and matched to create pieces that radiated a distinctive sunny vibe.

Linea Aqua’s collection comprised swimwear made from macramé which gave each piece a distinctive textured look. The swimwear pieces were primarily single colours spotlighting the macramé effect. Each piece in the collection is a 100% handmade by housewives in Hanwella, allowing them to gain extra income to support their families. Macramé is breathable and swimmable fabric and it takes two to three weeks to make one swimsuit.

Making its first splash at Swim Week was Seasand (featured on our Magazine cover). This collection was primarily based on saffron with the addition of a fusion of pink and purple that made the designs stand out. Floral patterns were a common theme that gave each piece a distinct tropical feel. Designer Jaish Jayasinghe better known for her Aakshii label said designing for Seasand has been a different experience for her but she has enjoyed it thoroughly. “I created Seasand last year and I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to showcase it this year as a new brand.”

This was Heidi Klein’s third time showcasing at Swim Week Colombo, and her collection mostly consisted of impeccably cut swimwear in soft shades. Sri Lanka continues to be a force of inspiration for her work as she enjoys travelling and seeing more of the country. She feels that local designers care more about the environment and that Europe has a lot to learn from Sri Lanka. Day One of Swim Week Colombo 2018 ended with an animated Heidi Klein dancing on stage to take a bow.