Showcasing the island's excellence and flair in the manufacturing industry, the Sri Lanka Design Festival will be the first of its kind to be held here from November 27 to December 5.
The event will include popular names in the international fashion arena such as Colin McDowell while highlighting local talent, with key buyers such as Next, Topshop, ASOS, Monsoon coming in as visitors.
"Sri Lanka is a great hub in manufacturing clothing for leading brands and in recognising this, we should develop its talent in designing and ensure that it is an emerging destination for the creative side of things," Country Director of the British Council, Gill Westaway told a media briefing last Tuesday.
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| The news conference regarding the event. Pic by Sanka Vidanagama |
Ms. Westaway emphasised the power of the creative industry and the need to establish Sri Lanka as a place of design and not just where high-quality apparel is made. The apparel industry focuses on ethical aspects, therefore, garments manufactured locally are done so under the 'Garments Without Guilt' initiative.
Explaining how the festival came about, the winner of the British Council's Young Creative Entrepreneur award this year and Managing Director of the Academy of Design, Linda Speldewinde said the award inspired her to develop the festival with the help of colleagues. "We feel that creative industries cannot be developed without educating the talent first."
The festival will also display the young and emerging talent from the University of Moratuwa.
This event spearheaded by the Academy of Design in association with the Export Development Board and partnered by the Joint Apparel Association, Brandix and the British Council, will provide a mélange of fashion shows, design exhibitions and workshops. |
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