CFW ends on note of elegance
Suneet Varma
The final two days of the highly anticipated Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) Summer 2025 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, showcased an exquisite blend of glamour and elegance, featuring collections by acclaimed local and international designers.
Indi Yapa Abeywardena’s ‘Bold in Bloom’ collection celebrated florals through vibrant prints, dramatic silhouettes and rich hues. Incorporating Beeralu lace into modern designs, her custom-draped dresses and sarees meticulously hand-draped to flatter women of all sizes, embodied confidence and grace. Charini Suriyage, known for her bold yet elegant designs, gave Sri Lankan tradition a contemporary twist, bringing mythical creatures to life with floral elements inspired by ancient art.
The collection by Fouzul Hameed for Hameedia honoured elegance, style and timeless sophistication. ‘Celebrating Life’ was designed for the modern gentleman and empowered woman, each ethically crafted piece fusing luxury with a bold statement of class. Closing Day Three was one of India’s foremost couturiers, Suneet Varma, whose collection epitomised glamour and timeless allure. His meticulously crafted garments radiated fantasy, sexy sophistication and unadulterated femininity for the modern woman. Emerging designers Ayani Liyanage, Aysha Faizer, Arsath Furkhan and Mevini Amarasinghe brought fresh perspectives to the runway with their distinctive collections, each reflecting their own creative vision.
Opening Day 4, Sonali Dharmawardena’s collection embraced sustainability through circular fashion, inviting her clientele to share pieces purchased from her earliest shows and retail stores in a testament to collective commitment and conscious fashion. LOVI Ceylon’s collection inspired by love’s intensity, had sensual, handmade pieces reflecting a modern Sri Lankan identity.
Indian designer Rimzim Dadu presented the collection ‘Stucco’ – a celebration of grandeur and modern innovation that seamlessly combined the opulence of Baroque architecture with the designer’s avant-garde aesthetic. Dadu’s signature use of experimental textiles along with progressive techniques transformed each garment into a modern sculpture. Divya Jayawickarama brought out her collection ‘The Beautiful Death’ inspired by the emerging butterfly – cocoon-like silhouettes with pattern shaping, gathering, draping and traditional Dumbara weaving, all crafted with natural yarns and a zero-waste ethos.
The grand finale belonged to Indian fashion designer J.J. Valaya, who closed Colombo Fashion Week 2025 with a spellbinding haute couture collection. The designer, having earned the title of Czar of Indian Couture, is regarded as one of India’s leading fashion gurus and is a founding member of the Board of Governors of the Fashion Design Council of India.
CFW Summer 2025 was a breathtaking celebration of creativity, culture and conscious design, firmly solidifying its place in the fashion calendar.
Aysha Faizer
Arsath Furkhan
Ayani Liyanage
Mevini Amarasinghe
Hameedia
Charini Suriyage
Indi Yapa Abeywardena
Rimzim Dadu
Sonali Dharmawardena
Divya Jayawickarama
LOVI Ceylon
J.J. Valaya
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