Fashion Design Council Sri Lanka broadening horizons for fashion and design fraternity

The landscape and platform of the fashion and design segment in Sri Lanka is evolving rapidly. From historically being a country famed for its textile and manufacturing forte, there is an exciting shift to the profession of fashion design and the creation of independent fashion brands and labels. 

The rising focus of individual fashion designers has been marked over the period of 24 months. This rapid transformation has also been tremendously supported by the ease of doing business online. The stalwarts of the fashion design industry in Sri Lanka have continuously stated that as a collective platform, great things can be achieved for Sri Lankan fashion design and design in other design streams. 

2016 marked the year Fashion Design Council Sri Lanka (FDCSL) was established. The idea was conceptualised and co-Founded by Fouzal Hameed and Ajai Vir Singh, the purpose of the platform is very objective. There are three kinds of memberships available, within these all designers can be included, starting from design students to established designers and also corporate memberships. The structure is formed in such a manner that it includes every designer in Sri Lanka.

Currently as most fashion designers work on their own funding, it proves to be one of the key constraints. The other key-limiting factor is the lack of exemptions, subsidies or grants for international opportunities. 

“FDCSL is something that had been in the back of my mind for a long time. After discussion with Ajai it came to reality. Every country has a fashion council and they help talented designers through government or private funds. It’s also part Government responsibility to protect the fashion designers. There are many areas that designers can gain and benefit. I like to thank Ajai and the entire exco for coming up to form FDCSL,” said Fouzul Hameed, Co-Founder and Executive Board Member.

The council aims to place fashion and other design streams in its rightful place in Sri Lanka and internationally establishing a strong fashion identity that is created and sustained. As per other countries, having a fashion design council allows for the creative industry to have a voice and to be recognised as a legitimate industry. The Council will promote and create a shift towards local IP (intellectual property) development. For example currently some Sri Lankan brands have made a mark at home but globally there is more required. 

“After studying various representative bodies in the region and outside we created and gave a mandate to the Fashion Design Council Sri Lanka to have the betterment, empowerment and enhancement of the fashion and design community at the core of all its activities. We look forward to a healthy and a prosperous design fraternity from this year onwards,” said Ajai V. Singh, Co-Founder and Executive board member.

The plan and focus for the next 12 months will include, exposing Sri Lankan fashion labels internationally through trade fairs with government support, discuss import and export concessions; making the process of trade less complex and quicker, marketing and promotions, fabric sourcing and knowledge workshops of the Fashion Design Council Sri Lanka.

Across the globe, fashion design and fashion designers support a nation by being brand ambassadors for a country. Names that come to mind include Stella McCartney, Alexandra McQueen for England, Abraham and Thakore Tarun Tahliani, Rohit Bhal for India and Carolina Herera for Venezuela when she started her fashion design career. India over the last 20 years has managed to not only raise fashion design’s status in the county but also put many designers on the global platform with the support of their Fashion Design Council. 

The executive board of FDCSL is Fouzul Hameed, Ajai Vir Singh, Yolande Ahluwihara, Darshi Keertisena, Dirk Flamer-Caldera and Upeksha Hager. Roshnee Wijeratne is the Chief Development Officer of the Fashion Design Council Sri Lanka

The council will always have a board comprised of designers and will be for designers. The idea by the founders is to kick it off and to make some good progress on key objectives primarily having more dialogue and communication with respective government ministries pushing the design agenda.

FDSCL is a development platform for the fashion and design fraternity in Sri Lanka.