HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) Resort 2016 will feature the latest resortwear collections of 13 established and 10 emerging Sri Lankan designers. 

The runway shows at the fourth edition of CFW Resort, hosted by Jetwing Hotels, kicked off last night at the Jetwing Lighthouse and will continue on 2 and 3 October at the Moon Bastion,Galle Fort.

Since its inception in 2003, CFW has propelled the careers of some of Sri Lanka’s most respected designers today. By introducing a Fashion Week culture within Sri Lanka, it has inspired designers to produce seasonal and retail-ready collections. As resortwear continues to grow as a year-round trend, Sri Lankan designers are able to tap into the great potential and demand for stylish resort and destination wear throughout the year.

At CFW Resort 2016, 10 handpicked emerging designers will present their collections on Day One at Jetwing Lighthouse. These bright, young designers have been mentored by the CFW Team in the months leading up to the shows, and have received valuable guidance to conceptualize and produce collections that are fit to be showcased at a fashion week of international standards. Showing at Day One will be; Heshan de Silva, Tarja de Silva, Azzraa Thaarick, Ridma Samaranayake, Anne Devananda, Nayani Fernando, Shanika Samarakkody, Angelina Senev-irathne, Srivithya Mathavan and Nithya Nanayakkara.

On Day Two and Day Three of CFW Resort 2016, leading Sri Lankan designers will present their most recent collections on extraordinary runway set up at the Moon Bastion, Galle Fort. Showcasing designers include; INDI, who will showcase the ‘Coral Escape’ collection presented by Vaseline; Ramona Oshini, who will present ‘Island Paradise’; CHARINI, with a colourful collection inspired by tropics and reef fish; Yasisurie, who will show a collection inspired by the culture and architecture of Hong Kong; Stefel by Peronie, with the ‘Island of Capri’ collection; U by Upeksha Hager, with the ‘From Sunny Summer Places to a Misty Forest’ collection; Conscience, with a unique collection that takes a feminine approach to its trademark masculine aesthetic; G by Gihan Ediriweera, who will show a collection inspired by the grapes and wines of the Mediterranean; The Old Railway, with a collection inspired by the love story of Catherine Rawson’s grandparents; and Hameedia, who will show their latest resortwear collection.

Two new labels, KASUN and Ari’el, will also be featured on the runway this season; KASUN, who will present a resortwear collection using its earthy hues and androgynous silhouettes. Ari’el, a collaboration between renowned designers Sonali Dharmawardena and Radhika Mendis, will present a collection inspired by the 1960s hippie subculture.

CFW Resort is enriched by its partnerships with its Title Partner, HSBC; Official Host Partner, Jetwing Hotels, the heart of Sri Lankan hospitality; Official Automobile Partner, Land Rover, world-renowned British automotive brand with a design heritage that is rooted in both authentic luxury and rugged capability; Unilever (Vaseline); Fashion Eyewear Partner, Vision Care; Wineworld; OLU Tropical Water; Hameedia; Official Hair and Makeup Partner, Ramani Fernando Salons; and Official PR Partner, Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide – who share and extend their support towards the vision and aspirations of CFW.

CFW is one of four main Fashion Weeks in Asia that are over ten years old and, as a developmental project, is constantly creating innovative runway and retail opportunities for Sri Lankan designers to gain exposure and breakthrough into the global fashion arena.

For more information on HSBC CFW Resort 2016, including designer information and schedules, please visit www.colombofashionweek.com or follow CFW on Facebook (www.facebook.com/colombofashionweek), Twitter (@colombofw) and Instagram (@colombofw).

Celebrated international designers to showcase at HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Resort 2016

The fourth edition of HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) Resort will showcase a line-up that includes 13 Sri Lankan designers and the latest collections of four respected international designers – Charlie HARARE, Lars Andersson, smallshop and SINGLE. Hosted by Jetwing Hotels, CFW Resort 2016 will present runway shows from 1 to 3 October at the Jetwing Lighthouse and Moon Bastion, Galle Fort.

Regarded as the backbone of the Sri Lankan fashion industry, CFW regularly invites some of the biggest names in the global fashion industry to be a part of its designer showcase, which has come to be known as one of the more ‘international’ Fashion Weeks in Asia. This season, CFW Resort will highlight four influential designers – two American, one Indian and one Australian – to be appreciated by the media, buyers and consumers.  Harare is a New York-based womenswear label, founded in 2013 by Caroline Fuss. Named after the birthplace of both her mother and grandmother, Harare’s dynamic cultural heritage is woven into the brand just as much as the fabrics themselves. The brand is devoted to unearthing rich artisan cultures from around the globe, and celebrating them through exquisite high-end women’s fashion.  Defined by a focus on the trade and skill of knitting, the Lars Andersson line continues to follow its mantra of creating “timeless pieces that will last a lifetime, defy trends, and always look contemporary and cool”. Lars Andersson, a New York-based luxury knitwear designer, defines his design aesthetic as ‘Dark Urban Hippie’, and his collections consistently paint that picture.

smallshop is a collaborative undertaking between Anshu Arora Sen and Jason Cheriyan. The smallshop aesthetic can be best summed up as vibrant, painterly whimsical and luxuriously languid. The ‘luxury’ here stems from the various unique hand processes the product goes through and the use of natural fabrics, which are finally translated into clothes that are soft, draped and artistic.

SINGLE, led by Daniel Single, who has an active pursuit for adventure, individual dressing styles and love of all things exciting. Through active pursuit of travel and adventure, SINGLE is about discovering beauty, culture, fashion, art and music from all corners of the globe. The clothes SINGLE makes are merely there to capture and record what it discovers, and uses clothing and clothing and collaborations to share this experience.

CFW Resort is enriched by its partnerships with its Title Partner, HSBC; Official Host Partner, Jetwing Hotels, the heart of Sri Lankan hospitality; Official Automobile Partner, Land Rover, world-renowned British automotive brand with a design heritage that is rooted in both authentic luxury and rugged capability; Unilever (Vaseline); Fashion Eyewear Partner, Vision Care; Wineworld; OLU Tropical Water; Hameedia; Official Hair and Makeup Partner, Ramani Fernando Salons; and Official PR Partner, Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide – who share and extend their support towards the vision and aspirations of CFW.

CFW is one of four main Fashion Weeks in Asia that are over ten years old and continues to inspire growth and drive innovation amongst Sri Lankan designers. It is considered the most recognized fashion platform in Sri Lanka, and one of the most respected in the region. For more information on CFW Resort 2016, including designers and schedules, visit the official Colombo Fashion Week website (www.colombofashionweek.com) or follow CFW on Facebook (www.facebook.com/colombofashionweek), Twitter (@colombofw) and Instagram (@colombofw). Use #CFWResort to join the conversation.