Back from a successful showing at the Miami Fashion Week, where she received an award ‘ New International Star’, designer Kanchana Talapawila says she was struck by the professionalism of all those involved- the models, the volunteers, even those doing the alterations.
The designer is given the freedom to focus on all aspects of the show, including the models, their hair, at which point they get on the catwalk etc. If you are not happy with anything you have the opportunity to change anything in your line, which is a plus point, said Kanchana.
Kanchana who has her label KT Brown was considered the best designer at the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, this year. Her reward – being chosen to show her designs at the Miami Fashion Week and the Russian Fashion Week.
“I had the chance to work with the producer of the show John Martinez,” she said, adding that she learnt a lot from him. Martinez works with big names in the fashion industry like Roberto Cavalli, Carolina Herrera and Zac Posen when they show at the New York Fashion Week.
Even though Kanchana was to attend the Russian Fashion Week on April 5, this golden opportunity did not materialise as she was not granted a visa. She was asked to send a supporting document for her visa to be processed but the authorities felt it was inadequate.
“The Russian Fashion Week, is the biggest fashion week because designers like Prada and Vivienne Westwood show there. It would have been a great opportunity for Kanchana and we were disappointed that the Russian Embassy was not more supportive,” Ajai Vir Singh, President of the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week said.
Kanchana didn’t have any sponsors coming forward to help her to prepare for her work in Miami or Russia and had to handle everything on her own including the funding for the trip. “I got Innovative Knitwear to come forward and help me as they developed all the knitwear for me for the show in Russia and they went out of their way to help me,” said Kanchana.
“The HSBC Colombo Fashion Week is a great platform but there has to be a way of sustaining it,” said Kanchana adding, “I think a designer has to concentrate on the designs you are going to create. If I have to look for sponsors etc. it gets a bit hectic so they need to come in a bit more.”
Kanchana has been in the fashion industry since 1990 when she was designing costumes for movies and advertisements. She had not however studied designing professionally and went on to read for her postgraduate degree in London in 2004. Getting back to Sri Lanka in 2007 she joined an apparel manufacturing company and a year later left the job and started teaching pattern making.
“Everything changed after the 2009 HSBC Colombo Fashion Week,” Kanchana said. She went on to open a store close to Park Street Mews where her designs under the label KT Brown are available.
Mr. Singh says that four MOU’s were signed with the Miami, Russian, Malaysia and Karachi Fashion Weeks. What was agreed here was that their designers would be given the chance to show their designs at the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week while the best Sri Lankan designers would be given a chance to show in their countries. |
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