AOD Fashion champions #NewLocal presenting Sri Lanka’s Design innovation globally at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week – Sri Lanka this weekend
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Sri Lanka has talent; Sri Lanka has creativity; Sri Lanka has sustainable materials, processes, and manufacturing power; Sri Lanka has the solutions the world is searching for.
This is the inspiring and optimistic message behind the #NewLocal movement that is currently taking shape from the midst of Sri Lanka’s young creative community. At the very heart of this movement is AOD’s fashion faculty—a centre for learning that is dedicated to the progression of fashion education in Sri Lanka.
Embodying the #NewLocal vision which celebrates the creative and entrepreneurial strengths of Sri Lankans, AOD Fashion is hosting a groundbreaking fashion show and exhibition this weekend. Hosted on the global platforms of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka, the show and exhibition will feature some of the most interesting and internationally relevant fashion propositions from the island.
These events contribute to AOD’s macro vision to use the momentum of #NewLocal to spark a renaissance in Sri Lankan exports by connecting local talent to global markets.
As a result, all featured collections have been curated through the lenses of sharing culture and heritage, pioneering material innovation with traditional crafts, and driving sustainability through conscious design. Upon the powerful international platform that MBFWSL provides, these collections will connect young Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to markets worldwide, fashion talent to industry employers here and abroad, and more opportunities for Sri Lankan exports to drive revenue back home.
The fashion show featuring this
fresh talent embodying #NewLocal will be live streamed tonight on www.mbfwsrilanka.com.
The AOD fashion exhibition, highlighting projects with outstanding creative and sustainable thinking in young Sri Lankan designers, will be open to the public under Covid-19 guidelines at the Colombo Innovation Tower between 9 am and 5 pm.
The #NewLocal movement by AOD was launched recently parallel to MBFWSL. However, the roots of #NewLocal with AOD goes way back.
As a movement that spearheads the power of creativity and entrepreneurship, it is very true AOD’s DNA which is based on the very same strengths.
Adding to the string of successes that championed local creativity and entrepreneurial strength over the years, AOD is highlighting several partnerships and collaborations to wrap up 2021 with the #NewLocal.
Many apparel industry-graduate talent partnerships, a power collaboration with LAN investors and a revolutionary handloom collection utilising yarn made from recycled bottles are all part of the shows and the exhibition as pilot projects that demonstrate Sri Lanka’s capabilities in responding to the latest demands of international markets with the use of local talent, resources and technology.
AOD ambassadors lead
as #NewLocal role models
Earlier this week, many Sri Lankan designers took to social media showing their support to the #NewLocal movement by AOD.
Taking the lead among them were AOD ambassadors whose work ethoses and life philosophies embodied the movement by being living examples of using creativity and entrepreneurship to take Sri Lanka global. Among them were Amesh Wijesekara whose award-winning work is gaining steady international recognition from London, Kasuni Ratnasuirya who founded the successful KUR NY label targeting North American markets from New York, Nithya Lamahewa behind the popular Sri Lankan brand ‘Nithya’, Lonali Rodrigo from House of Lonali sustainable label and Norway based Ishara Jayathilake whose work is bridging a modern Sri Lankan aesthetic with Scandinavian minimalism.
These incredibly talented young designers were products of AOD’s unusual approach to education fed from its diverse design ecosystem, sustainability centered vision, entrepreneurial culture and international exposure; It’s an education that pushes young creators to think and grow beyond the typical approach to design, and truly connect their heritage, identity and skills to what they do.
Demonstrating how this progressive education model is continuing to create new stars in fashion, AOD’s #NewLocal ambassadors and many more previously unseen designers are joining the shows and exhibition at MBFWSL this weekend.
A power collaboration: AOD and LAN/Ford Foundation
When AOD started its journey of working with grassroot level artisans well over a decade ago, many perceived local crafts as a sector with limited opportunities and which is impossible to innovate. However, AOD’s persistence in teaming up designers and artisans in a co-creative process changed this completely.
It was a way of working that innovated the processes, infrastructure and even the businesses related to crafts. The outcomes not only highlighted the talent and skills of local designers and artisans, but also enabled many craft SMEs with international market access. The LAN/Ford Foundation collaboration came about through this success.
It is a design x artisan hive project that aims to create impact at grassroot level by empowering rural artisans to scale up their businesses in partnership with conscious designers. The LAN/Ford Foundation has recognised five AOD designers for this project who will work with hundred artisans in palmyra craft, hand knitting and handloom. The project is conceptualised, executed and managed by AOD with its sister companies FMLK and DFSD: this work will also be part of the exhibition and fashion shows at MBFWSL this year.
Eco spindle: conscious innovation
in material and process
Another AOD Fashion project that will be highlighted on the catwalks of MBFWSL this year is the Eco Spindle handloom collection. It is a groundbreaking collection and the first of its kind, utilising discarded plastic bottles to create yarn to hand weave textiles using the traditional handloom.
This Eco Spindle handloom collection consists of seven resortwear looks, and was designed by AOD’s Deanne Edirisuriya for Island Collection. The collection demonstrates how twenty plastic bottles can weave an entire dress, while forty would create enough recycled thread to create an entire saree, highlighting how much of the world’s waste problems can be solved through conscious design.
The AOD designer behind this collection, Deanne Edirisuriya, is an example of the kind of designer Sri Lanka can create by making education, exposure and opportunities available to young creators.
AOD education, which constantly brings in art, craft and culture into the classroom, also directs students to understand international trends and market needs with a good sense of industry capabilities and technology.
This has been the success underpinning AOD’s education and that of the designers that it creates.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka is taking place this weekend showcasing young fashion and textile graduates from AOD, fashion entrepreneurs driving their own brands and local textile graduates. The shows will be live-streamed on www.mbfwsrilanka.com, while MBFWSL fashion exhibition, highlighting projects with outstanding creative and sustainable thinking in young Sri Lankan designers, will be open to the public under Covid-19 guidelines, at the Colombo Innovation Tower between 10 am and 5 pm.
AOD extends an open invitation to all young design aspirants who have just completed their O/Ls and A/Ls and their parents to walk in freely to the Colombo Innovation Tower on the 12th of December from 10am to 5pm and explore this unique showcase of inspiring work of young fashion and textile graduates from AOD.
For more information on AOD’s Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing programs reach AOD on 0775727772 / info@aod.lk.
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