FASHION WEEK
Founded in 2003 with a vision to revive the fashion design industry in Sri Lanka, Colombo Fashion Week, popularly known as CFW enters its 16th year with an expanded plan of a multi-pronged approach to take the fashion design industry of Sri Lanka to the next level. This approach will focus on designer showcases and designer retail through a new programme called “Look and Book,” a Sri Lankan fashion design exhibition to celebrate design, marketing promotion of Sri Lankan designers through films and celebrate and showcase Colombo as a destination.
Ajai said that this year is significant as CFW moves into its second phase of fashion with the theme THE NEXT 15 YEARS, “which represents our expanded vision with a road map to take the industry into the next phase of development.”
HSBC the lead partner and sponsor celebrates its 12th year of association with Colombo Fashion Week. Moving to showcase the city of Colombo as a vibrant city, three key hotels, Hilton Colombo, Shangri-la Colombo and Galle Face Hotel will be hosting the shows, the first time such a collaboration has come about. The GMS of all three hotels were singular in their thinking and aligned well to support this event.
More than 30 designers, both local and international are set to showcase over a period of four days. Some of the international designers include Rajesh Pratap Singh and Sukit Dir. Our Sri Lankan designers list will feature Sonali Dharmawardena, Charini Suriyage, Maus by Annika Fernando, Meraki by Sharmila Ruberu, Dimuthu Sahabandu, FH by Fouzul Hameed, ‘Jai’ by Aashki, Amilani Perera, Lovi Ceylon by Asanka De Mel, La Pard by Dinushi Pamunuwa, La Sari by Nilanka Silva, Brian Kerkoven, Aslam Hussein, Vathsala Gunasekara, Indi by Indeevari Yapa Abeywardene, Kamil Hewavitharana and Gihan Ediriweera among others.
Sri Lankan Fashion Design Exhibition will be a key first, to celebrate through exhibition the work of important Sri Lankan designers. The Exhibition will run for the week and is open to all to enjoy. There will also be an award for one young designer, THE NEXT award.
Iconic Ramani Fernando has been part of this journey since inception and continues as the official hair and makeup partner.
Ajai Vir Sing who has worked tirelessly on this project said, “at CFW we have always focused on emerging designers. In fact, 8 years ago we formally introduced the Emerging Designer Development Programme which has become one of our strong focus points and fuelled the engine for new designers. Today, 80% of the designers we see have come through the CFW system.”
I wish you all success Ajai and many more years of great achievement.