Arts
Fashion feast
Hitting the ramp in style: An array of designs by the young students captured by our photographer Amila Gamage
Wrapping up the weeklong exhibition of design and innovation in style, the grand finale fashion show of ‘Sri Lanka Design Week 2018’ last Sunday saw exquisite fashion collections on the ramp at the Arcade Independence Square.
Design Week presented by the Department of Integrated Design of the University of Moratuwa featured the design disciplines of Product, Fashion and Lifestyle with Media and Communication to cultivate new design potentials produced by talented individuals who could create an impact on the national economy. The show by the students and graduates of the Department of Integrated Design was curated by Ajai Vir Singh, founder of Colombo Fashion Week.
The first segment unfolded an elegant collection of handloom, designed by the second year undergraduates of the Department of Integrated Design, created under the project Culture Code which focused on the development of local crafts. The draped collection was inspired by the local traditional handloom industry.
Bringing ‘Tradition to Lifestyle’, the collection themed ‘Handwoven Wearables 2018’ showed that traditional craftsmanship can be uplifted with the use of innovative design ideas. Both male and female attire in elegant handloom materials in pastel green, gray, blue, red and maroon were stylishly designed, with eye catching dresses with shoulder knots, high necked drapes and tussled edges.
Five young designers of the Department of Integrated Design showcased their first collections – a ‘Student Designer Brand Launch’ of level 3 undergraduates. The idea was that by establishing a new fashion logo the students could gain exposure in the fashion industry.
Imali De Silva’s collection featured flowing dresses, skirts and cropped tops. Presenting a sophisticated menswear collection of loose fit pants and long tops in ivory, cream and brown complemented with scarves was Himesh Rajapaksha while Randika De Silva’s designs featured dresses loosely draped in pastel white, yellow and gray.
Naduni Madushika, looking to blend cultural fashion details had used checked handloom textiles. Her collection included a jumpsuit in double colours–checked pale orange blended with plain dark brown. Presenting her clothing line ‘Yaadra,’ Eshadi Yaddehi Arachchi’s artistic approach was seen in a rustic collection in shades of beige and cream with stylish head drapes and scarves.
Veteran designer and lecturer Chandramani Thenuwara was felicitated on the occasion with a Lifetime Felicitation Award from Sri Lanka Design Week. The award was presented by the Chief Guest Finance and Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera.
The next in line, the Hackathon Collection featured denim worker attires designed by the Hirdaramani Group in collaboration with the Responsible Fashion Movement. The collection looked at recycling and upcycling denim waste with the aim of zero landfill use of cloth, taking denim back to its roots of work wear. The looks presented the worker uniforms for different industries.
The grand finale was the Graduation Collection featuring the creations by the graduating students of the Department of Integrated Design. Tanya Mawella presented a semi -formal wear collection for Sri Lankan executive working women. The versatile attire was also specially designed to provide comfort and sophistication for working women in pregnancy and postnatal stage.
Madara Ranasinghe, with her ‘Handloom Infused Evening Wear Collection’ featured the bold colours of Jaffna handlooms with the iconic traditional botanical motifs of Ududumbara.
‘Plus Size Casual Wear Collection to Flatter the Figure’ was Anuththara Indrasekara’s collection showcasing a plus size range infused with the technique of colour blocking.
Himashi Wijeweera:Winner of the Young Responsible Fashion Designer award
Lakshika Baminiwatta who is already working in the fashion industry presented her range ‘Coded Canvas’ featuring elegantly pleated fabrics made into stylish costumes.
Exploring the ways of utilizing bobbin lace (beeralu) in the high end fashion market Himashi Wijeweera presented an Occasion Wear Collection infused with bobbin lace with other materials.
Himashi Wijeweera carried away the Young Responsible Fashion Designer award of ‘Sri Lanka Design Week 2018’ presented by the Responsible Fashion Movement. The award is presented to a bachelor of Fashion and Lifestyle Design student who has shown the most responsible approach to design in the final year comprehensive design project.
