After three successful days of showcasing collections of Sri Lankan, regional and international designers, Colombo Fashion Week 2009 came to a close on February 21.
Supported by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau in association with the hotel Taj Samudra, the show featured collections of nine designers each evening with star choreographer Kevin Oliver, from Dubai handling the event. Long term consultant and partner of Colombo Fashion Week was Prasad Bidapa, considered India’s fashion guru. Hair and make-up for the models was by Ramani Fernando salons.
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| Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara |
Two new Sri Lankan labels Arugam Bay and Stringhopper were launched at Colombo Fashion Week, testimony of the fact that there is increasing Sri Lankan talent. These labels will be available in Sri Lanka and India.
The Colombo Fashion Week which supports and promotes Sri Lankan designers also took a step forward in creating retail infrastructure for Sri Lankan designers in Sri Lanka and in India. For the first time four important Sri Lankan retailers registered as buyers. This will encourage Sri Lankan designers to create for the seasons. The start of a retail infrastructure will also attract important international designers to participate in the Colombo Fashion Week.
With Fahad Sheriff, Kanchana, Sarani, Darshi and Yoland showing strong collections, they will now look at India as a destination for retailing and showcasing. There were also important collections from Colombo Jewellery Stores which celebrated 86 years, followed by a European influenced collection by Triumph and an introduction to LICC jeans - a complete Sri Lankan initiative.
“We still have more to do, it’s another successful year but a few more miles away from our objective of placing Sri Lankan designers on important regional and international platforms. We are confident if we maintain this trajectory we will get there in a couple of years,” said an upbeat Ajai V. Singh, founder and Chief Organiser of Colombo Fashion Week.
“There is a lot of planning and work going on on a few fronts which should directly impact the fashion industry including retail network creation and tie-ups with other fashion weeks. We should see more results soon,” he added. |
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