Colombo Fashion Week – Day 3

By Sashini Rodrigo

Pix by Sameera

Drawing CFW 2020 to a close at Hilton Colombo, Day 3 saw seven of Sri Lanka’s eminent designers showcase their latest collections created under the Responsibility in Fashion program. Versatile designs and zero-waste policies were cornerstones of each collection, heralding a new era of tried-and-true sustainability in the fashion industry of Sri Lanka.

Guests in attendance, as well the livestream audience, were treated to a stunning array of collections that had unique takes on responsibility through fashion.

Kicking off the show was INDI by Indi Yapa Abeywardena with the elegant and summery ‘No Planet B’ collection, backed by a live rendition of Skyfall by singer Q. Next up was Limak by Kamil with ‘PURITY’, a dramatic primarily white collection that imagines an ideal world without pollution.

The standout of the night was the bold, detailed and deeply emotional ‘Unbreakable’ collection by Amilani Perera. It depicted the struggle faced by victims of domestic abuse in Sri Lanka, with a live interpretive dance performed alongside. Made in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the showstopper piece was modelled by Mrs. World 2020 Caroline Jurie.

After a short break, Meraki’s collection took to the runway with its sleek silhouettes, metallic accents and neutral and jewel tones, The shades and patterns were heavily inspired by James Turell’s architectural design ‘Skyspaces’. Next, Jai by Aashkii stayed true to the brand with its bold and bright ‘Enchanted Blossom’ collection, with its explosions of colour and flirty tropical evening wear and sarees inspired by the ancient trading port of Hoi An in Vietnam.

Giving new life to old and remnant fabrics, The Old Railway embraces circularity of garments with their latest collection. Evoking a vintage 70s vibe with dramatic prints and classic tailoring, the collection was accented by full-head net coverings.

Closing out the weekend of fashion in ‘the new normal’ was Charini Suriyage’s vision of soft femininity, the largest collection of the night. Soundtracked by international beatboxer and singer Julius Mitchell, the collection took over the runway with its diverse and glamourous drapes in a neutral palette with signature interesting detailing.