An eclectic mix of beads, laces and embroidery adorn a patchwork of velvet, denim and cotton fabrics. The striking colours and contrasting textures combine to form a truly striking concept.
Her Miss-Match collection, Bohemian, won Sri Lankan designer Nilika Lakmini Honourable Mention in the Women’s Haute Couture Professional category at the International Design Awards (IDA) 2010, held in Los Angeles, California, USA in May 2011.
The IDA is conducted annually to “celebrate the world’s most visionary designers, discover new and emerging talent, and promote the appreciation of design world wide”, with the participation of architects and designers of interiors, fashion, products and graphics from more than 60 countries.
“I had a desire to participate in an international competition... I wanted a challenge,” said Nilika, who won this award competing with established fashion designers from Paris, London, Los Angeles and Milan.
The panel of judges included the editor of Design Quarterly, Alice Blackwood, the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Cool Hunting, Josh Rubin, and many more prominent figures in the design community. Her work was also published in the 2010 IDA Book of Designs and on the IDA website.
Speaking of ideas and creativity, Nilika said that she finds world cultures “a great resource to take inspirations from”. During the design process she finds out about the life styles, religions, music, festivals and beliefs to bring out their essence in her creations.
Her collection Bohemian was “inspired by the hippie culture in the United States during the mid-1960s... and the colour inspiration is from North Indian Gujarat tribal clothing”. She used a “fabric combination of leather, handloom, woven cotton, embroidered laces, velvet, tie-and-dye fabrics, printed denim and tweed fabrics” to create a unique look.
Designing is the favourite part of her work, she says, explaining that concept-based or high creativity design seen in haute couture is more time-consuming and expensive because of the rich materials and embellishments used. However, the freedom of the designer is restricted with commercial-based fashion by price and customer preference.
Nilika believes that integrating interesting elements of high creativity fashion into commercial-based apparel enables the designer to create fashionable and creative clothing on an industrial level.
Nilika studied at the Little Flower Convent in Bandarawela and the St. Thomas’ Girls’ High School in Matara. In 2005, she graduated from University of Moratuwa with a degree in Fashion Design and Product Development coordinated by the London College of Fashion.
At her final year graduation show, she won the Innovation Fashion Designer Award for her Women’s Wear Collection 2006. She was selected for a six week training programme at Victoria’s Secret in New York sponsored by Brandix Lanka Ltd.
Her graduation award gave her a head-start in her career, she feels. “If anyone wants to be a fashion designer it’s better to get a good foundation through the apparel industry first,” says Nilika, adding that a university education and knowledge of fashion business is also important.
Now as a senior designer at MAS Intimates, she feels working for a reputed company in the apparel industry has provided her with knowledge, experience and exposure through opportunities to travel to many fashion capitals including Paris and Hong Kong for trade fairs and business meetings.
Speaking of the fashion industry in Sri Lanka, Nilika said, “people want to be fashionable and they look for quality and fashion both.” She hopes to start own brand in the near future and is also engaged in an environmentally-friendly T-shirt designing project for Yala Village. |
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