'Swim Week Colombo' gets off to a dazzling start

Dazzling the ramp, eight designers unveiled some breathtaking designs at Friday’s opening night of “Swim Week Colombo” held at the Colombo Hilton. Possibly the first eco-ethical fashion week to be held in the Asian region, Swim Week Colombo, is warmly embracing the eco-friendly theme.

First up the runway was the creative team of “Arugam Bay”. Their vibrant collection saw nature prints meet Aztec designs. The philosophy of the brand was visibly printed into the material of the bathing suits, trunks and cover-ups; a wholesome capture of the essence of the East Coast and its distinct characteristics.

Sharmila Rubero is no stranger to the local catwalk – this designer’s brainchild “Meraki” always builds the right dose of anticipation. Known for her free-spirited sense of style, “Meraki” draws inspiration from the everyday woman. Her creations are best described as elegant, monochromatic and clean cut.

A brand of premium resort wear with a focus on beachwear along with complementary accessories, “Rum Punch”, embodying the essence of the island took the catwalk with a palette of vibrant colours and bold prints.

“Maus” takes great pride in releasing fashion that is on par with the green initiative system followed at Swim Week. The new collection is made from 100% organic cotton and natural dyes with biodegradable packaging. Maus has a reputation of showcasing three collections each year, mainly complimenting the tropical lifestyle of our country, these being Summer, Monsoon and Fête. The collection was a set of sophisticated swimwear - living up to brand’s ethos of clean designs this season.

An expertly arranged marriage of traditional batik and contemporary swim wear, “La Pard” lit up the ramp with their unique use of traditional batik to create a range of beachwear and resort wear.

KOCA by RN, a unique Sri Lankan brand is a range of chic swimwear which specializes in using modern applications and techniques. With their primary focus on luxury resort wear KOCA’s collection is largely inspired by the Jaesun dynasty art. Their unique collection featured fabrics purchased from local shops as well by upcycling luxury sarees and shawls.

The locally produced and designed clothing line “Rachel Raj” takes pride in offering a range of luxury ready to-wear, free-size clothing for the everyday woman. Taking on a resort chic style for this collection Rachel Raj’s label enlivened the runaway with its vibrant personality – the brand seeks to celebrate the diversity and individuality of women.

With a versatile collection of swimwear, American brand Hot-As-Hell’s (HAH)’s collection was inspired by natural beauty – Mother Earth. Paradise Found (Paradis Trouvé) was symbolic of the brand’s roots in being a natural, ethical product for women – the collection consisting of a rich colour palette inspired by nature. The brand unveiled a collection of elegant simplicity, blurring the lines between beachwear and lingerie-with corsets, lace, floral prints incorporated into the designs in what we may deem, sophisticated swimwear.

By Tarini Pilapitiya, 

Pix by Amila Gamage