CFW 2020: Responsibility in Fashion takes centre stage

By Ruqyyaha Deane and Sashini Rodrigo

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Aslam Hussein Pix by Amila Gamage and Sameera Weerasekera

Day 2 of CFW brought together art and fashion with readings by Ashok Ferrey and a performance by Kishani Jayasinghe as models walked down the ramp showcasing designers like Aslam Hussein, KOCA by RN, WRAITH and more.

From exquisite jewellery which included a bespoke pair of earrings embedded with LED lights from Vogue Jewellers, classy suits by Fouzul Hameed that played with colours and prints to Dimuthu Sahabandu’s 25 piece-collection which ended the night as he celebrated 10 years of being part of Colombo Fashion Week — Day 2 of CFW was a night of vibrant elegance as designers stayed committed to this year’s theme of ‘Responsibility in Fashion’.

Day 3 saw the last seven designers of the weekend showcase their latest collections on the runway at Hilton Colombo with performances from singer Q, interpretive dance by Sandarangi Perera and beatboxer Julius Mitchell. Labels like INDI by Indi Yapa Abeywardena, Limak by Kamil and Jai by Aashkii took their inspiration from aspects of the environment around the world, while Meraki and The Old Railway drew on visual art and vintage aesthetics.

The standout collection was ‘Unbreakable’ by Amilani Perera, which took responsibility in fashion to a new level by partnering with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to create an empowering fashion statement that highlighted the plight of women facing domestic abuse in Sri Lanka.

Overall, there was a strong push towards reducing wastage, circularity and the use of sustainable materials, with Charini Suriyage’s collection being a great example of timeless and versatile design. The designs were judged using the Responsible Meter evaluation tool – the first fashion organisation in the world to bring this kind of accountability.