Their ramp stories
View(s):- Spotlight on emerging designers at MBFWSL
By Shannon Salgadoe
The annual Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka (MBFWSL), presented by the Academy of Design (AOD) and powered by DIMO, kicked off its four-day extravaganza on Thursday, November 7 at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, the official venue for the Sri Lanka Design Festival 2024.
Providing a platform for emerging and acclaimed local designers, the runway on Day One celebrated the ingenuity of emerging designers, each collection narrating unique stories through diverse inspirations. Over 50 designers were featured, a few of whom are highlighted here.
Nethangi Fernando, in collaboration with Inqube and Sarasavi Exports, presented ‘Liminal’, a collection honouring indigenous heritage with all-white pieces crafted using handloom techniques like Dumbara weaving. ‘Beneath the Surface’ by Asheni Ravinayaka was inspired by the timeless elegance of 1960s fashion, featuring a bold colour palette, with pieces crafted from handloom fabrics using the traditional Ikat method, intricate embroidery, and fabric manipulation. Drawing on her Portuguese roots and 1980s Western fashion, Sakuni Rodrigo fused Portuguese and Sri Lankan influences into her eclectic designs in her collection ‘Minha’.
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- Shiaya Shimry
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- Ishini Kumarasiri
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- Chanali Ranathunga
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- Wageesha Dewapaksha
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- Sathini Karunarathna
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- Asheni Ravinayaka
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- Sayuri De Silva
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- Sakuni Rodrigo. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
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- Suchini Ekanayake
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- Jiya Tailor
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- Hashari Fernando
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- Nethangi Fernando
Inspired by Japanese Kintsugi, Hoshini Pitigala’s ‘Hoshi.n’ was a monochrome streetwear brand that targeted Gen Z creators with versatile, sustainable designs. Also inspired by Kintsugi, ‘Gold Mahour’ by Jiya Tailor incorporated patchwork and Indian zardozi, mirroring the gold lacquer techniques in the art. Sahanya Siribaddana’s ‘Adiya’ was a kimono-inspired collection that integrated eco-conscious elements like elephant footprint motifs, blending cultural heritage with sustainability.
‘Beyond Boundaries’ by Shanelle Charuki was a womenswear collection that celebrated the resilience of Indian women, with bold silhouettes inspired by ’80s power dressing and Rajasthani architecture. Symbolising fire, strength and power, ‘Agni’ by Chanali Ranathunga was a vibrant patchwork collection for women that drew inspiration from the legend of King Ravana and the Kathakali dance.
In collaboration with the Hirdaramani Group and Prasara Washing Plant, ‘Canopy Chronicles’, Suchini Ekanayake’s outdoor menswear collection drew on ’90s outerwear aesthetics and environmental themes like earthy colours and silhouettes that reflect damaged lands and endangered plants. ‘Phantom Threads’ by Hashari Fernando featured deconstructed and bleached denim patchwork, reused fabrics, and intricate embroidery in a collection that married fashion with traditional craftsmanship.
Ruwini Wijetunga’s ‘YAAGA’ collection, created in collaboration with Aitken Spence Apparels and DSI, presented a ready-to-wear winterwear line that masterfully combined Sri Lankan cultural influences with skilled craftsmanship. Similarly, Dilakshi Ireshika’s ‘Kurundu’ paid homage to cinnamon, a spice integral to Sri Lanka’s economy, while evoking personal nostalgia through designs inspired by her childhood memories. ‘Lunuganga’ by Sathini Karunaratne explored the serenity of Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga Estate with earthy tones, square patterns and vintage-inspired silhouettes epitomising timeless design.
Senaya Wickramatunga’s collection, ‘Moggler,’ boldly addressed the issue of sex trafficking through streetwear. Using intricate fabric manipulation with safety pins as symbols of confinement, the collection blended art with activism. Mehara Wijesinghe’s ‘The Monotony Palette’ (featured on our cover page) brought optical illusions to life in a vibrant spring/summer collection.
‘Akila Fazal’s ‘HAYYIY’ celebrated the beauty of Islam through modest womenswear while Ishini Kumarasiri’s collection ‘Nirvana’,inspired by the Buddhist concept of Samsara chakra, incorporated pure silk, batik, and sustainable materials, symbolising the spiritual journey of a lotus flower.
Sayuri De Silva’s ‘BloomBell’ collection married fashion with wellness, offering vibrant handmade batik designs on linen and cotton. Hirundi Peiris’s ‘Synesthetic Spectrum’ transformed audio patterns into visual art, blending Dumbara weaving, gradient crochet and intricate embroidery in a dynamic colour story.
Wageesha Dewapaksha’s collection ‘Vivora’ embraced mid-sized body positivity through evening wear inspired by reptiles and gemstones, crafted with traditional batik techniques. Shiaya Shimry’s ‘AWAKENING’ combined sci-fi aesthetics with couture, showcasing innovation-driven designs that supported environmental consciousness.
The collections while highlighting a blend of sustainability, cultural heritage and innovative craftsmanship, showcased Sri Lanka’s rising creative talent that positions MBFWSL in the global fashion calendar.
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