First ever Mercedes-Benz Fashion and Apparel Awards Sri Lanka

DIMO Chairman Ranjith Pandithage congratulations one of the award winning designers

The first edition of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion and Apparel Awards Sri Lanka concluded on a high note with a dazzling night that awarded 10 proud winners. This prestigious event that marked the pinnacle of Sri Lankan fashion recognised and celebrated the most influential personalities, organisations, partnerships and initiatives that have shaped Sri Lankan fashion and apparel into the most powerful export industry of the nation.

The Fashion Runway Shows were held over the weekend of 27-29 November, with the highlight being the Mercedes-Benz Fashion and Apparel Awards on 28 November, which recognised the following individuals and companies: the Individual Designer Awards were won by Amesh Wijesekera (Student/Graduate industry collaboration award), Shayani Alwis (Own brand award (Individual)), Prabath Samarasuriya (Sustainable Fashion Design – Craft) and Janaka Ulandupitiya (Emerging Designer Award). 

Industry Design Awards were won by Alvin Pasangha (Industry young blood designer award), Star Garments (Game Changer through innovation), Norlanka (Design and detail excellence in casual wear award), EKKO (Own brand award (Industry)), Orient Design with innovative knitwear (Specialists products and accessories award) and MAS Intimates (Design and technical excellence in constructed apparel award). 

The winners were selected by a panel of three international judges – consisting of Peter Ingwersen (Former Day Birger Mikelson Creative Director and former Levis Europe Brand Director), Jane Rapley OBE (Professor Emeritus, Central Saint Martins), Jane Rapley (OBE, has served for 17 years as Dean of Fashion and Textiles at Central Saint Martins) and Stuart MacLeod (Educated in Northumbria University, and with a BA (Hons) degree in fashion design).

The Mercedes-Benz Sustainable Fashion Runway took place on 27 November. 

This runway focussed on presenting sustainable apparel by various designers. Sustainable engineering brought forward by the talented designers was on par with the brands vision on sustainability. Long before sustainability became a trend, Mercedes-Benz has been innovating and implementing new ways to help minimise the impact of cars and trucks on the environment. It’s a promise that’s been kept for generations, and it was not just with cleaner and more efficient power under the hood. 

This started well before a Mercedes-Benz travels its first mile, and extends beyond its long and reliable lifespan. And like every aspect of Mercedes-Benz innovation, this sets the stage for mobility and the world, so that everyone will be able to enjoy a better tomorrow. Mercedes-Benz Emerging Talent Runway took place on 29 November. This runway highlighted the designs of the graduating class of AOD. The talent of these individuals were of exceptional standards, and with the presence of a world-renowned luxury brand, the recognition received by these future stars is unparalleled. 

Mercedes-Benz displayed their latest SUV range (GLA, GLC and GLE) at the premises and the new hybrids (C 300 Hybrid and E 300 Hybrid). It was the perfect scenario for Mercedes-Benz to showcase its vehicle range at this event with the global association the brand has with the fashion industry. With its eye-catching lines, the SUV’s made a bold statement at the event. Internationally, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week consists of a series of international fashion weeks sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. 

Notable Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks include events in Berlin, Australia, Miami, Russia, Istanbul, Mexico and ‘Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York’, held during New York Fashion Week.