Sri Lanka’s craft heritage caters to hotel industry

Tuesday, 1 November 2011 01:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

‘Island Craft’ special product showcase featuring craft-based designer products from across the island, and highlighting the efforts of local artisans through home-ware and textile products will be hosted by Sri Lanka Design Festival on 16 November. Island Craft product showcase features collections that are specially designed and produced for the hotel industries of Sri Lanka and abroad.

This special product showcase will be especially beneficial for Hoteliers, Architects and Interior Designers as it features a previously unseen collection of designer products for the corresponding industries. From Pilimathalawa brassware light fixtures, Dumbara upholstery, coir flooring and carpets, batik textiles for curtaining to Galle ceramic crockery, the Island Craft product showcase will provide creative solutions and inspiration that will create a new dimension in the local hotel industry and associated architecture.

The showcase also includes home-ware, toiletries, basketry and other specialty products by the north and east of the country involving over 100 female artisans who are rebuilding in a post war era and has already completed two successful projects for Mount Lavinia Hotel and Chaaya Hotels. The handloom weaving project in Gampaha District’s Divulapitiya division will present a specially designed collection of hand-woven bed-linens, table linen and textiles.

These projects that touch the life of almost 500 people will be showcased at Sri Lanka Design Festival’s Island Craft exhibition which will have a special audience of local and international hoteliers and hospitality industry leaders. The work of these artisans is essentially Sri Lankan in aesthetic, colour and texture and contemporary with modern design input. They are designed to carry the message of ‘Sri Lanka’ through hotel interiors, products, and utensils and promise to become a rewarding experience for local and international hoteliers, architects and interior designers.

Sri Lanka Design Festival invites these professionals to become a part of the event on 16 November. For more information contact www.srilankadesignfestival.com or the festival secretariat +94 11 5737303 at Academy of Design (AOD), 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 4 between 8.30 am – 5.00 pm Monday – Saturday. SLDF is conceptualised and organised by AOD (www.aod.lk ) – Academy of Design, Sri Lanka’s pioneering and inspiring design campus that offers international creative and design education while serving as a dynamic catalyst of the local creative industry growth. AOD organises SLDF in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka and key industry stakeholders including the Joint Apparel Association Forum – the apex body the Sri Lankan apparel industry. Other Key partners include ; Mount Lavinia Hotel – Festival Host, Textured Jersey – Official Fabric Partner, Trade Card – Official Software Partner, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics – Official Freight and Logistics Partner and Sri Lankan Airlines – Official Airline along with Knowledge Partner – British Council, Sparklink Travels, Bates Strategic Alliance PR, Social mIdea, Norwegian Embassy and Addikt Design Movement.