Chokolaate MDFD Contest 2016 to feature top design schools

The Chokolaate Mother-Daughter Fashion Design Contest is an annual event organised by the Chokolaate Magazine. For the seventh consecutive year, the event will feature 16 finalists who have taken on the challenge to create beautiful pieces for both a mother and a daughter. The event unfolds on 28 May at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre in partnership with PONDS BB+. 

Each of the 16 participants will showcase designs under the categories of eveningwear, casual wear and sportswear which will all be modelled down the runway by real mothers and daughters. The event offers aspiring designers an opportunity to showcase their talents and skills. Each year, the event also provides the competitors with an opportunity to learn by observing the finest and most recognised personalities in the fashion industry in the country. 

This year after many preliminary rounds, the renowned panel of judges chose sixteen finalists with great potential to be a part of the grand finale. The 16 finalists are all passionate, hardworking and talented individuals who wish to be recognised and identified for their talent and skills. Among the talented 16 are school goers and university students, each of them representing a renowned educational institution in the country. 

Amasha Kulasuriya is one of the 16 finalists who are currently studying at the Open University of Sri Lanka even though she is originally from Kandy. The Open University of Sri Lanka offers their students with an environment and background to follow their courses through distance and open learning. 

Three of the finalists namely Arunesh, Rashfa and Manaharie study at yet another renowned educational institute called the Asian Academy of Commercial Studies (AACS). AACS is one of the most renowned commerce training academies in the country and offers programs from diploma to post graduate levels. The programs they offer are affordable and well recognised. 

Finalists Kalzana and Anushka both study at the Academy of Multimedia Design and Technology (AMDT). AMDT is widely known around the country to be a top notch educational institute as they offer various programs such as advertising and marketing, fashion design and marketing, photography and film making. 

The youngest of the 16 finalists, Viranda is a student of Gateway College and will be sitting for her Ordinary Level examinations this year. Each year, the students of Gateway College excel at academic award ceremonies such as Higher Achievers Awards and Edexcel Award Ceremonies and also produce students who perform well in sports, drama and other activities. 

Another one of the educational institutions that is represented in the finals by Adlah is ESoft. ESoft has maintained a strategic partnership with London Metropolitan University and the institute continues to provide their students with a multitude of education programs enabling the institute to be the largest private sector education network in the country. 

Representing the University of Moratuwa Nisansala is a student of the faculty of architecture while Devindi is currently studying fashion designing there. The University of Moratuwa offers education programs in various subjects such as architecture, engineering, information technology etc. 

16 year old Milani Lawrence studies at Methodist College and is one of the youngest competitors this year. At Methodist students are constantly encouraged to excel not only academically but also to fuel their passions and talents. Milani will showcase her inspired collection on the runway this year as result of nurturing her design talent.

Representing the University of Colombo where she is studying International Relations, Sithsara will feature her lighter side on the MDFD runway. Sajini who is studying at the National Institute of Fashion Design will also feature her butterfly inspired collection. Aishath Najwa who is also currently studying at the Raffles Design Institute has been inspired by the starry night painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

Seasoned designers in the fashion industry are also among the finalists including Eranga Wickramasinghe who returns to the competition for the second time this year. The third male finalist this year Ishan Nazar also plays a significant role in the fashion scene as a trained nail technician at the Nail Spa at Cinnamon Lakeside. 

For more information on the finalists and the grand finale, please visit the Chokolaate Facebook fan page.

This year the show has also drawn a host of sponsors, with the title sponsor being Ponds who have been a great supporter of the show in the past. Co- Sponsors include Coats Thread Lanka, Triumph and AMDT while Segment Sponsors are LICC Jeans, Elephant House Ice Cream, George Stuart Pharmaceuticals and Heart Rislet. 

The Official Hotel and Caterer for the event is the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Official Beverage is Coca Cola, Official Radio Kiss FM, Official Television partner ART TV, Official Airline Sri Lankan Airlines, Official Photographer Praveen Mirando, Official Videographer Radicalz, Official Hair & Make-Up Salon Chrissy’s, Official Choreographer Brian Kerkoven, Official Florist Second Chance Flowers, Official Online Media Revolution Portfolio & Gayani Batz Media Crew, Digital Community Partner Happy SL, Official MC Kumar De Silva, and the official PR Partner for the event will be Nehemiah Consultants. Mini Titles will be sponsored by VLCC while Jet Airways and You Travels will provide gifts for the winners.