10 emerging SL designers showcase on Day One, product of CFW Development Program

• Year-long investment to mentor and guide new generation of Sri Lankan designers 

    The Emerging Designers showcase, a key highlight of HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW), has been ramped up this year to the next level to showcase 10 emerging talented designers nurtured on the CFW platform, on 23 February at Park Street Mews. 

Conceptualised in a new format, the Emerging Designers platform is the successful outcome of a behind the scenes, year-round development project by CFW. A handful of exceptional, aspiring fashion designers, selected by an expert panel of judges, are given the coveted opportunity to be guided through their creative process by the CFW Team, who provides them with valuable training and mentoring to conceptualise and produce a runway-ready collection. 

An integral part of the CFW vision, Project 7 is a detailed designer development project that aims to strengthen the ideation process leading to a strong point-of-view development. It is a specialised program composed of a series of workshops that takes participants through practical steps that define creativity and ideation with a refreshing perspective, helping them become more sensitive to the constant creative process. This program also brings participants knowledge and insights into the fashion industry as well as what it takes to be successful in both runway and retail today.

CFW has a focused development project to guide, mentor and lead both emerging and established designers. CFW has taken on the mantle of single-handedly developing the fashion retail infrastructure and growing the fashion retail industry in Sri Lanka. By staying true to its vision, CFW has become the backbone of the Sri Lankan fashion industry and one that is supporting and leading Sri Lankan designers to international platforms.

Going a step further, CFW organises CFW Day at leading fashion schools in Sri Lanka, through the year, with the aim of educating and orienting young design students with practical knowledge of the fashion design industry. CFW even organises shows for emerging designers to showcase new talent, who will be showcased at the next CFW platform. 

Emerging designers in Sri Lanka who have benefitted from CFW’s focused development programs acknowledge the authenticity and commitment of CFW to engendering a self-sustainable infrastructure for fashion designers in Sri Lanka. 

The CFW Fashion Design Fund which supports the most impressive young designer who is a participant of the Emerging Designer show will also be selected being awarded funding for their collection along with guidance on how to kick-start his/her fashion career. This year over ten designers will be showcased at the CFW Emerging Designer Showcase 2017.

CFW Fashion & Food – Il Ponte and Iko Tei at Hilton Colombo along with the restaurants at Park Street Mews, Café Francais, Park Street Mews, La Trattoria and Curve will be part of the fashion and food extravaganza from 20 to 26 February. 

CFW Frame in partnership with ARTRA and The Residencies at One Galle Face showcase is to be held on 22 February at the Land Rover showroom. Saskia Fernando Gallery will be unveiling an exclusive collection of works by P413 and ARTRA Magazine will be showcasing the works of ARTRA’s emerging artist for its Feb/Mar edition with Kavan Balasuriya. CFW Workshop by Rid Burman will be held on 25 February at 9:30 a.m. at the Hilton Colombo. 

HSBC CFW 2016 is enriched by its partners: HSBC, Hilton, Land Rover, Colombo Jewelry Stores, Wineworld, Olu Water, Vision Care, Unilever - Ponds BB, Ramani Fernando Salons, Spa Ceylon, Illy Coffee, Hameedia, Hellmann Logistics and Emerging Media – who share and extend their support towards the vision and aspirations of CFW.

For further details, please visit www.colombofashionweek.com or follow CFW on Facebook (www.facebook.com/colombofashionweek), Twitter (@colombofw) and Instagram (@colombofw).