ODEL shortlisted at 2011 Global Fashion Awards

Friday, 24 June 2011 03:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s top fashion retailer ODEL has been shortlisted as a finalist at the 2011 Global Fashion Awards in New York, placing the home-grown brand in the company of iconic retailers of the calibre of Harrods, Macy’s and LL Bean.

Honouring fashion’s most innovative and inspirational businesses and individuals, the WGSN Global Fashion Awards 2011 attracted entries from diverse countries such as the USA, the UK, Israel, China, Norway, Australia, Japan, India, France, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Hong Kong.

ODEL is one of 11 finalists in the category ‘Outstanding Customer Experience’ chosen by WGSN (Worth Global Style Network) from several hundred entries from names that represent the who’s who of global fashion.

“Being shortlisted for any category at the fashion world’s apex awards is a big achievement for us, but we are doubly pleased to be in the Outstanding Customer Experience category because that is precisely what all of us at ODEL strive to improve each day,” the company’s founder and CEO Otara Gunewardene said. “To be in a select group that includes iconic department stores such as Harrods and Macy’s is an honour.”

The 11 shortlisted names for the ‘Outstanding Customer Experience’ award are AlphaOne, Amritsar, Harrods, HoltRenfrew, Liberty, LL Bean, Macy’s (Backstage Pass) JWT New York, my- wardrobe.com, ODEL, Santa Eulalia and Zappos.

The 2011 Global Fashion Awards are to be presented on 20th October 2011 at the prestigious Gotham Hall in New York. Billed as the first global networking opportunity with over 500 industry leaders from America, Asia Pacific and Europe, the event expects 400 C-Suite fashion luminaries to be in attendance – from FTSE 500 listed companies to Interbrand's Best Global Luxury Brands.

The Global Fashion Awards were created in 2010 by WGSN, the leading online trend-analysis and research service, to recognise and reward those who are pushing the boundaries of fashion, propelling the industry forward and setting the style agenda on a global scale. With its star-studded judging panel of industry greats, fashion experts and icons, this is the only awards programme that celebrates innovation and excellence on a unique peer-to-peer platform.

In January this year ODEL was conferred membership of the prestigious Intercontinental Group of Department Stores (IGDS), the largest association of department stores in the world, making it the only IGDS member in Sri Lanka. This membership places ODEL in the company of some of the leading and most prominent department stores in the world including Selfridges, Saks 5th Avenue, Printemps, Parkson, Beco, FEDS, Shopper’s Stop, M&S and Woolworths.