Four international and eight local designers showcase at HSBC CFW Resortwear 2012

The first CFW Resortwear show will feature a total of 12 important designers showcasing their Resortwear 2013 collections. The focus for the first show is the South and South East Asian region hence the designers are from Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The show which is themed as a Resortwear weekend on the banks of the beautiful Jetwing Lagoon will have Jendela KL from Malaysia, Sanchita from India, Bibi Russell from Bangladesh and Rizwan Beyg from Pakistan. They will all show their Resortwear 2013 collections first at CFW Resortwear show before showcasing at shows.

The Sri Lankan designers who made a strong impact earlier in the year at HSBC CFW have shown a natural inclination to create resortwear collections to show are Darshi Keerthisena, Yolande, Sonali Dharmawardhane, Gihan Ediriweera, Avirate, Upeksha, Arugam Bay and FH.

“It’s an interesting line-up as we wanted to go out with 8 interesting Sri Lankan and four international designers at our first show and then to expand the format from next year to make it a strong regional hub for Resortwear. It will also be an interesting platform of interaction between Sri Lankan and international designers, sharing ideas and learning. We are starting something interesting here and Sri Lanka’s fashion industry stands to gain in a big way,” says Colombo Fashion Week President Ajai Singh.

Jendela KL

Previously labelled Jendela Batik, the revamped Jendela KL design house oversees the production of the women’s haute couture, resortwear and prêt-a-porter collections.  Using motifs distinctive and quintessential to Malaysia’s heritage and culture, updated with contemporary style and fashion, Jendela KL delivers a contemporary vibe while maintaining a strong cultural legacy. The art of batik is set to become the new vehicle for luxury and style, moving beyond its traditional domain.  Jendela KL recently collaborated with Debehams for a spring summer collection and also the famous Mouwaad Jewellery House producing a $30 million dress. Jendela KL was also the recipient of the Mercedes Benz STYLO Fashion Gran Prix 2011’s Designer of the Year.

Sanchita

Sanchita moved from Milan to Bangalore few years ago, having studied fashion in Italy and worked for Issey Miyake among others.

Sanchita is based in Bangalore and currently the Creative Director of the Sanchita men’s, women’s and accessories collections and a creative consultant for Lanvin, Etro, Marni and other European luxury brands, which are produced by Sanfab. She made tremendous impact at India Fashion Week and in our international outings.

Bibi Russell

A global icon, and the most high profile with accolades around the world, not only has she wowed Colombo with her amazing collections; she has consistently done that around the world too. This is her fifth showing at a CFW show. She has been given the titles ‘Designer for Development;’ and ‘Artist for Peace’ by UNESCO in 1999 and 2001, received the Peace Prize in 2004 from the United Nations Associations of Spain, and Asiaweek magazine highlighted her as, “one of the 20 people to watch in the millennium.”  After working with Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani, she started Bibi Productions to work with Bangladeshi weavers and artisans to help them use their craft to sustain themselves and thrive. 

Rizwan Beyg

The most respected Pakistani designer who has shown around the world and at prestigious Milan Fashion Week and London Fashion Week. He was named ‘One of the 100 Most Influential Asians’, along with the likes of Sonia Gandhi and Amir Khan, by Ahlan, a Dubai lifestyle magazine. His long-time goal has been to perfect the art of embroidery and embellishment and fuse East with West.  Perhaps his ultimate triumph was when he was asked to design an ivory ensemble for Princess Diana. Other high profile clients include HRH Queen Rania of Jordan and Jemima Khan.

Acushla by Sonali Dharmawardena

Sonali debuted at CFW in 2011 and has not looked back since. She has improved with every showing. In last two years she has made an amazing impression and a following. Using varied textures of fabric, leather and techniques of batik, each piece is a work of expression to complement the body that it embraces.

Arugam Bay Surf Club

Arugam Bay SC draws its inspiration from Arugam Bay, one of the most amazing surfing destinations in the world. A preppy new label aims at sophisticating surfwear and gives an option when you are not surfing in the sea but chilling on the beach. It’s young, happy and colourful.

Buddhi Batiks by Darshi Keerthisena

After joining her family business, Buddhi Batiks, in 2005, Darshi has truly brought Batiks into the contemporary fashion market. She has shown consecutively at CFW since her first one in 2007. A Colombo Fashion Week success story, her showing in 2007 launched her into India. Through CFW program she was selected to show at Russia Fashion Week. She has shown her work alongside reputed Indian designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal and JJ Valaya and receiving orders that have her retailing in top design stores in Bangalore and Chennai.

G by Gihan Ediriweera

Before Gihan makes the waves at his first showing at CFW in 2012, he was named ‘Best Designer of the Year’ twice in 2009—once by the Sunday Observer. He is young as brand with great potential. His collections can be found at Cantaloupe Boutique at Galle Face Court and in India at Ensemble.

Upeksha

Upeksha showed first at CFW in 2011 followed by her showing in 2012. Having studied costume design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, Upeksha Hager worked as a designer for a number of years in theatre in Washington DC. After returning to Sri Lanka after twenty years abroad, she launched her fashion brand three years ago. ‘U’ is an extension of a lifelong immersion in the visual arts.

Yoland by Yolanda Aluwihare

Yoland a veteran of CFW and recipient of the Lifetime achievement award at HSBC Colombo Fashion Week in 2012. She is an institution in fashion design. Wrapping human form in great works of art is what Yolanda Aluwihare-Holm strives for with each piece of her collection. Year after year the Yoland Collection continues to create more luxurious, unique pieces that exude vibrant colour, texture and design whether a dress, saree or a shawl.  Yolanda herself has become one of the most celebrated designers in Sri Lanka, winning coveted awards and dedicated fans nationally and internationally.

FH

Fouzul Hameed’s eponymous label debuted at CFW in 2009 and has not looked back since. FH has shown at Karachi Fashion Week twice and retails in Sri Lanka, India and in Europe. A very wearable label for Men’s in the tropics

The HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Resortwear Show 2012 will be held on 22 September at the Jetwing Lagoon Negambo.

Key partners are HSBC, Colombo Jewellery Stores, Fed Ex, Range Rover, Rainco, Envoy Mansion, Avirate, Ramani Fernando Salons, British Council, SHIFT and Diageo.