Design drives innovation in SL leather and footwear industry

• AOD produces EDB’s Footwear & Leather Fashion Show 2015 in partnership with Coats

Sri Lanka’s leather industry has been producing accessories, furniture, footwear and other products for decades; however, the future of the industry lies in integrating bespoke craftsmanship with new technology and contemporary design, to move into a new era of international success. The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) hosts the annual Footwear & Leather Fair to promote this burgeoning industry. Understanding the significance of infusing cutting edge technology and modern design to take local leather industry to the next level, for the 2015 fashion show of the Footwear & Leather Fair, EDB invited Coats Thread and AOD International Design Campus as partners. The resulting show was one that exceeded the expectations of the crowd present at BMICH that evening, as local leather and footwear makers put forward their previously unseen designer collections forward on a dazzling catwalk. This spectacular show hosted by EDB was underpinned by Coats’ product expertise and AOD’s contemporary design knowledge which proved to be an outstanding demonstration of the success brought about through a government-private sector-education partnership. This fashion show, a parallel event of the Footwear & Leather fair 2015 organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board together with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Industrial Development Board and the Sri Lanka Footwear & Leather Products Manufacture’s Association. The fashion show featured the leading footwear and leather manufactures and exporters of Sri Lanka alongside collections of menswear and womenswear made using artisanal fabric and 100% Sri Lankan design. For over three months retailers and manufacturers like Ceylon Leather Products, D Samson Industries LTD., S. A. Perera & Company Ltd., Bata, Cat Walk Industries, Sinindu Enterprises Ltd., Saraa OSs, Supun Aerosoft Ltd., P.G. Martin, Selakta International Ltd., Oleema Industries Ltd., and Winta Footwear Industries worked closely with AOD and developed a range of leather footwear and accessories that are in par with any international fashion boutique or catwalk. These pieces were featured as part of the show and captivated the audience of invitees gathered at BMICH. “The Footwear & Leather Fair started in 2007 by the EDB to broaden the international exposure and opportunities to local manufacturers and it has continued for seven consecutive years since then,” stated Bandula Egodage, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). He added: “The 2015 edition of the fashion show organised with the support of AOD and Coats, helped EDB to promote the new creative-knowledge based, design capabilities of the local leather makers; a skill valued greatly by international markets.” Coats Sri Lanka Managing Director Douglas Aceiro said: “We were honoured to support such remarkable talent and craftsmanship with EDB and AOD design campus. Coats has a close connection with the global leather and footwear industry having been a supplier of high quality sewing and embroidery thread as well as accessories to international brands and contractors across six continents for many years. The fair was a great opportunity for us to share our thread and zip solutions developed on using our high quality standards and pioneering expertise with the Sri Lankan leather/footwear industry.” Coats is the world’s second largest supplier of zips under its Opti brand and caters for a multitude of applications across a wide range of end uses including leather apparel and footwear. It has recently invested in technology to provide a fast and efficient puller sampling service, Coats Opti ProtoPul, and can now create any puller sample in less than seven days, a major benefit to the time pressured supply chain of the footwear and leather industry in Sri Lanka. AOD International Design Campus Founder and Managing Director Linda Speldwinde stated that AOD has been working closely with the Government and the business sector for many years now, driving local industries to reach the global markets through design integration. “At AOD we use design to drive industries and our local exports to go global and to take ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ to ‘Designed and Made in Sri Lanka’. We have worked closely with the apparel, hospitality, tourism, advertising and packaging, etc., so, we are very pleased to use design to contribute and engage with yet another industry with our new connection to leather and footwear through EDB. It’s a partnership that presents new prospects for our AOD young designers too as they now have more opportunities to test their skills with a new industry and contribute something wonderful for their country. I have to express my gratitude to the EDB for engaging us and supporting AOD’s vision to integrate design with industry and we are delighted that we got to support yet another EDB initiative and work alongside their ever-so-committed team.”