Arts
Setting off a youthful trend with traditional sarong
Aiming to encourage the younger generation to embrace their cultural identity in the field of fashion, 21-year-old Sonali Perera and 23-year-old Bimsara Akwatte have created Cadmenn with the hope of cultivating a brand and not just creating a business.
Students at the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and alumni of Holy Family Convent (Bambalapitiya) and Wesley College, Sonali and Bimsara used the extra time afforded to them during last year’s COVID-19 lockdown to think of a way to redefine the conversation on fashion among youth, trendsetters and people who wish to express their personalities while paying homage to Sri Lankan culture and traditions.
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- Ivory Sarong – Vegas Gold
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- Ivory Sarong and Shore Sarong. Pix by Hiyan Navarathne
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- Carbon Sarong – Black
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- Blaze Sarong – Maroon
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- Bimsara Akwatta and Sonali Perera
After almost over a year of brainstorming, planning and thinking, just last month, the idea turned into reality with their brand Cadmenn, promoting the vision of ‘Embracing Refined Tradition’.
“We decided to launch our brand with the sarong as our initial product because we felt that it can be marketed as a unisex product, while also offering a chance for youth to express their originality. We believe that every piece is not just a product but a story waiting to be told,” they share with us.
The sarong is a traditional piece of clothing that hasn’t changed much over time. Mostly worn by the older generation, it is only in recent years that sarongs have become a fashion statement. Sonali and Bimsara both share an affinity towards clothes that are both utilitarian and understated and this is shown in the Cadmenn’s sarongs that come with internal linings for added comfort, a waist adjuster and a built-in pocket.
“ These influences can be seen in our collection; Angara inspired by simplistic charcoal and Karav inspired by the flavours of the coast,” Bimsara says. The collection aims at increasing awareness on ocean pollution and sustainability efforts, which they call ‘an important part of our island’s identity’.
The sarongs come in solid colours for their pilot collections as they believed that a brand shouldn’t come before a person, rather the person should come before the brand; hence allowing the customer to feel confident in their minimalistic yet bold colours.
Cadmenn sources its materials locally which include traditional handloom cotton and Challenger material for the internal lining of the sarong. They have free delivery islandwide and worldwide shipping is also available.
“Being a startup , we have relied on our friends and family for an incredible amount of support, which they have unconditionally reciprocated. We wouldn’t be Cadmenn without them,” they tell us.
Check out Cadmenn on their Instagram and Facebook pages on @Cadmenn and get your outfits ready for the upcoming Avurudu season!