Dark shades to airy lightness
View(s):- (CFW) Summer 2023 edition-Emerging designers
By Shannon Salgadoe and Pix by Akila Jayawardena
The second day of the Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) Summer 2023 edition on March 29 saw the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La Colombo transform into a runway as up-and-coming designers took the limelight.
The Emerging Designers segment over the years has been the starting point for many Sri Lankan designers. Chamanka Hewage brought out a collection inspired by dreams with a dark and moody palette reflecting nights and loneliness. Hirushi Jayathilake celebrated the feelings of euphoria along with personal growth and transformation with her butterfly-inspired collection featuring light and airy designs which contained hand-embroidered motifs.
Taking inspiration from nature’s fractal patterns, Devapriya Halwala’s collection featured silhouettes, shapes and hand-embroidery details on natural fabrics and was made using sustainable pattern making. Shehani Guruge used innovative 2D and 3D fabric manipulation to create powerful silhouettes which focus on empowering women with cancer to embrace their bodies post-surgery. Bringing out the essence of luxury in nature, Rochelle Tissera drew inspiration from the shapes of feathers and vibrant hues of hummingbirds, which could be seen in the detailing of the garments.
Inspired by the period of Dutch colonisation, Navindri Ranatunga’s collection featured nods to architectural elements found in Dutch Reformed churches across the country. Navindri was a part of the CFW Accelerate programme and was also one recipient of the HSBC Emerging Designers Fund.
Aysha Faizer’s collection celebrated traditional
Sri Lankan crafts within contemporary fashion, paying homage to traditional artwork. The collection utilised block printing techniques and struck a balance between traditional and modern influences.
Gayanth Karunaratne kept it simple and stunning celebrating femininity with striking elegant lines.
Jaishni Karunaratne (featured on our cover page) incorporated elements from traditional Kandyan fashion — structure and shapes and colours such as red and tan into designs that were cross-referenced with Elizabethan era fashion.
MAEL CEYLON, the streetwear and accessories brand by Akash Paranavithana used unconventional materials and metals, transforming them into something wearable. The zero-waste label’s new collection follows the movement of embracing your inner darkness.
The second part of the show was a special design presentation by celebrated Indian designer Tarun Tahiliani. Tahiliani’s richly detailed and opulent garments included couture, occasion wear, and ready-to-wear with a variety of uniquely draped saris and lehengas, gowns, and sherwanis — a dazzling finale to the night.
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