Emerging flair

By Ruqyyaha Deane

CFW opening night on February 27

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Himashi Wijeweera. Pix by Sameera Weerasekera

Opening Colombo Fashion Week 2019 was the ‘Emerging Designer Showcase’ that provided a platform for Sri Lanka’s new generation. Taking place at the Hilton Colombo on February 27, eleven fashion designers mentored by KT Brown’s Kanchana Thalpawila, Creative Director of Buddhi Batiks Darshi Keerthisena and founder of U, Upeksha Hager, used the ramp to present their concepts and creativity.

Himashi Wijeweera, Marlon Rae, Nilusha Muddumage, Nadeeshani Ratnayaka, Manasha Silva, Shehana Dayananda, Achala Lee Koh, Ayesh Wickramarathne, Ridma Samaranayake, Shimalka Bodaragama and Udarika Dalugama made up the chosen 11.

From the soft silhouettes of Himashi Wijeweera’s Beeralu-inspired evening wear to Manasha Silva’s electric Japanese inspired street wear, Marlon Rae’s statement on coastal pollution to Udarika Dalugama’s expression of gender equality; it was indeed a marriage of fashion and cultural awareness.

Experimenting with structural elements, stitching techniques and materials, the future designers of Colombo’s fashion world portrayed their expertise by incorporating varied influences into their designs. Nadeeshani Ratnayaka integrated a Japanese stitching technique Sashiko into her constructed clothing; Nilusha Muddumage created functional and asymmetrical designs by overlapping lightweight fabrics for easy mobility and flow while Ayesh Wickramarathne used denim to his bidding as he created an assemblage inspired by ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’

Transporting audiences to different eras and countries, designers Shehana Dayananda recreated 90’s era fashion for the modern woman whilst Shimalka Bodaragama played around with Flamenco ruffles, off the shoulder necklines inspired by early 1900s Spain. Paying homage to Sri Lankan culture and history Ridma Samaranayake incorporated Beeralu lace and conservative Kandyan styles. Achala Lee Koh’s collection formed a picture of a sunset on the beach using dyed fabrics.

The most promising designer of the 11 judged by their mentors will receive the NEXT award (awarded on CFW’s final day, March 2).

Please see Page 6 for CFW Day 2 fashions