AOD Cultivates Talent Coveted by Sri Lanka’s Multi-billion-dollar Apparel Industry, Opening Doors to Promising Careers in Fashion
View(s):AOD’s industry-focused education equips young designers with the skills and exposure needed to thrive in the business of fashion. For Lihini Nanayakkara, this meant transforming her creative instincts into industry-standard creative conceptualisation and execution skills through AOD’s internationally recognised fashion design and marketing degree. Her education not only nurtured her talent but also positioned her for real-world success; InQube, a leader in apparel innovation, discovered her through AOD’s industry network and offered her a career before she had even graduated. Today, as part of InQube’s Innovation Node, she develops product innovations and collaborates with international brands, proving how AOD connects young talent with the real needs of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, bridging the gap between education and employment in a sector that thrives on innovation.
Encouraged by her parents to follow her natural talents, Lihini’s passion for art and creativity found its true direction at AOD. Here, she studied Fashion Design and Marketing through the prestigious Northumbria University UK degree programme at AOD.
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- Lihini Nanayakkara presenting her graduate project at the Emerging Designer Showcase during Sri Lanka Design Festival 2024.
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- Lihini Nanayakkara with her parents at the AOD convocation 2024
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- Lihini Nanayakkara receiving a Special Award for Collection Development from Douglas McLennan, Chairman, Graduate Fashion Foundation at Sri Lanka Design Festival
According to Lihini’s father, Mr. Randaeva, who is a seasoned businessman, creativity was always part of their family’s DNA. While he didn’t pursue a creative career himself, he recognised its value from a young age. His wife, too, came from a family with generations of experience in crafting handmade garments. “She didn’t go for classes or do any courses,” he explains, “but patterns, stitching, threadwork, drawing, and creativity came to her naturally. Lihini also had that in her, maybe from us, I guess.”
From childhood, Lihini was encouraged to explore her creativity. Drawing was a shared activity in their home, something that bonded the family and nurtured Lihini’s artistic instincts. But when it came time to choose a career, Mr. Randaeva didn’t force her into any particular path. Instead, he took a step back and observed. “I did not overanalyse things; I understood her tendencies and abilities and let her pursue that,” he says. “You will only succeed in what you like to do, so we always wanted to encourage her liking and her innate talent.”
That decision proved to be the right one. After exploring her options, the family found AOD—the only design university in Sri Lanka offering Northumbria’s internationally acclaimed degrees in fashion and design. For Lihini, it was the perfect place to translate her artistic instincts into a career with real-world potential.
AOD’s Unique Education Model: Preparing Graduates for Industry Success
Lihini’s journey at AOD was transformative. While she had always been creative, she had never seriously considered a career in fashion. In school, she studied music and math for A-levels at Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda, and continued her passion for art. But it wasn’t until she entered AOD that her true direction became clear.
“Designing was never a plan for me,” Lihini shares. “I continued drawing, and I always dressed differently. When I went to AOD, I think the fashion mentors recognised my affinity for fashion and encouraged me to pursue it.”
One of her earliest memories at AOD was during her first sewing class with Mrs. Damayanthi, a highly experienced mentor. “I stitched a straight line, and she told me that I had it in me to do well in fashion,” Lihini recalls. Looking back, she believes that her mother’s generational influence in making clothing played a role in her natural ability.
AOD’s education model is unlike traditional academic environments—it is hands-on, industry-focused, and designed to help students develop the skills that brands and businesses actively seek. “From the first year, I worked really hard, and the lecturers recognised it and supported me,” says Lihini. AOD provided her with a platform to showcase her talent not only in the classroom but also to industry leaders. Through its vast network, AOD created opportunities for students to present their work to key decision-makers in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and beyond.
When Talent Meets Opportunity: How AOD Connected Lihini with InQube through its Industry Ecosystem
AOD’s strong ties to the fashion and apparel industry meant that top companies frequently visited the university, scouting for new talent. Lihini’s big break came when InQube, a global apparel innovator, attended a presentation at AOD.
“InQube discovered me when they came to a presentation at AOD, and I presented my work to them,” she says. Impressed by her skills and creative approach, InQube contacted her mentor at AOD, Prof. Thomas Atkinson, expressing keen interest in bringing her on board.
Getting a job before graduation is a dream for most students, and for Lihini, it has become a reality. She attributes much of her success to the mentorship she received at AOD. “AOD really helped me with their network,” she says. “I’m so thankful to my lecturers and parents. I didn’t want to disappoint them, and I think I did them proud.”
A Parent’s Perspective: Why AOD’s Education Matters
For Mr. Randaeva, the most rewarding aspect of Lihini’s journey is knowing that she has built a future for herself by doing something she loves. “All parents want kids to have a secure future,” he reflects. “As parents, we earn and do what’s in our strength when we’re young, and before we get old, we want to see our children standing on their own feet. We feel very fortunate to have that with Lihini because her future is sorted, and she has a very secure career in a pathway that she enjoys and is good at.”
He emphasises how AOD played a critical role in shaping that success. “I have to say, if AOD wasn’t there, many young people wouldn’t get this opportunity; many children and young adults wouldn’t know what to do with their creativity. So, I find AOD’s work very important and absolutely necessary.”
Beyond academics, Mr. Randaeva was also impressed by AOD’s faculty and their dedication to students’ personal and professional growth. “When we spoke to teachers, we could see that they had an authentic interest in the students,” he says. “They really wanted the children to do well and were as invested as us parents in building secure futures for the graduates through their own skills and creativity. Prof. Thomas Atkinson, especially, was so keenly interested in students’ lives, even to the point of helping them manage their emotions and mental well-being during stressful times ”
AOD’s impact on students goes far beyond the classroom. The university’s deep connections with industry leaders ensure that young designers like Lihini not only graduate with skills but also with real career prospects. “Lihini got her job before she even graduated, which clearly shows the trust placed in the education at AOD by the industry,” Mr. Randaeva says proudly.
Creativity, Confidence, and a Future Secured
Lihini Nanayakkara’s story is proof that creative talent, when nurtured in the right environment, leads to remarkable career success. From her early days of drawing with her parents to securing a role at a global apparel powerhouse like InQube, her journey is an inspiration to young designers and their families.
For parents wondering if a creative education can lead to a stable, successful career, Lihini and her father have a clear answer—yes. With the right support, guidance, and industry-focused education like that at AOD, creativity can be a pathway to incredible opportunities.
Interested in a future in fashion and design? Visit AOD Career Month this March to find out more about their degrees and corresponding career pathways. Join workshops and get hands-on learning and expert career guidance to match your talent and interests with real-world career opportunities.For more information, walk into AOD at the Colombo Innovation Tower, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, or visit www.aod.lk
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