Colombo Fashion Week to celebrate 15 years of reviving fashion industry

From left: Vision Care Chairman and Managing Director Dasantha Fonseka, Ramani Fernando Salons Founder Ramani Fernando, Colombo Fashion Week Director Dirk Flamer Caldera, Drive One Managing Director Hiran De Silva, HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Prothero, Colombo Fashion Week Founder President Ajai Vir Singh, Hilton Colombo General Manager Manesh Fernando, Unilever Sri Lanka - Skin Care and Hair Care Marketing Manager Nilushi Jayatileke and Olu Tropical Water and Wine World CEO Shalindra Fernando -Pic by Ruwan Walpola

By Shannon Jayawardena

The HSBC Colombo Fashion Week is to celebrate 15 years of reviving the fashion industry from 19-25 March with the theme ‘Celebrate Colombo,’ which will not only elevate the fashion market but highlight Colombo as a tourism hub. 

The event, which was inaugurated in 2003, expands the boundaries of the fashion industry by launching innovative initiatives while keeping in line with its visions that aim to develop and showcase Sri Lanka’s fashion design platform to the world.

Colombo Fashion Week Founder and President Ajai V. Singh said: “It is quite a milestone that we are celebrating and this journey has become a fashion development platform as nearly 90% of the designers that you see in Sri Lanka are a product of Colombo Fashion Week. It has built pride among the local labels and opened the way for young Sri Lankans to become designers and create commerce.”

This year the event will feature season fashion and food which will be in line with the fashion capitals of the world – London, New York, Tokyo, Milan and Paris. Hit Factory will be producing the background ramp music as the officials believe that art and music will create a more lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.

HSBC Chief Executive Officer Sri Lanka and Maldives Mark Prothero noted: “This event has lasted for 15 years and gets better and better each year and it is not an easy thing to do. Some of our most successful customers are apparel manufacturers so this is great for a corporate customer base and premier finance.” 

A responsible fashion summit will be hosted on 19 March with a panel of local and international experts who will address the subject of fashion movement being a value system that brings out the goodness in society and the environment while 20 March will give the stage to an art connect, music designed launch and a fashion and food event highlighting New York Fashion Week.

A knowledge workshop based on social media and blogging in fashion and lifestyle conducted by Naina Redhu and a fashion and food event giving prominence to Paris Fashion Week will take place on 21 March, while a fashion and food event featuring London Fashion Week will take place on 22 March, when the main designer showcase will commence.

On 23 March the main designer showcase will be featured while promoting Japanese Fashion Week and on 24 March will be the finale of the main designer showcase. On 25 March the emphasis will be on Milan Fashion Week while 12 emerging designers will be showcased at the end.

Over 30 designers both local and international are set to showcase over the course of the four days. The emerging designers are Dinushi, Anushika, Poorni, Yathra, Marlon, Nadeeshani, Nilusha, Himashi, Rebecca, Nayani, Achala and Vathsala.

Some of the international designers include Bibi Russell, Eymeric Francois, Urvashi Kaur and Tarun Tahiliani. The local designers include Darshi Keerthisena, Upeksha Hager, Charini Suriyage, Maus, Dimuthu Sahabandu, Conscience, Meraki, Sonali Dharmawardena, Fouzul Hameed, Jaishree, Amilani Perera, Catherine Rawson, Lovi Ceylon, Nilanka Silva, Aslam Hussein, Indeevari Yapa Abeyagunawardene and Gihan Ediriweera. Colombo Fashion Week Director Dirk Flamer Caldera stated: “The entrance to the event is by invitation so we expose most of Colombo to the Fashion Week at almost no cost. It’s so important for a city like ours to attract the right kind of people to take part in the infrastructure and one of the ways to do this is to have a vibrant art and culture system in Colombo. What we are trying to do is achieve this goal through this event.”

Colombo Fashion Week Founder and President Ajai V. Singh, HSBC Chief Executive Officer Sri Lanka and Maldives Mark Prothero, Hilton Colombo General Manager Manesh Fernando, Unilever Sri Lanka Skin Care and Hair Care Marketing Manager Nilushi Jayatileka, Drive One (Authorised Dealer for Audi in Sri Lanka) Managing Director Hiran De Silva, Olu Tropical Water and Wine World Chief Executive Officer Shalindra Fernando, Colombo Fashion Week Director Dirk Flamer Caldera and Ramani Fernando Salons Founder and CEO Ramani Fernando were members of the head table at the press conference held on 6 March to announce the event lineup.