AOD fashion education placed among the world’s finest in London last week

AOD Fashion Prodigy Amesh Wijesekara wins International Fashion Award at UK’s Graduate Fashion Week

AOD’s name was announced among the best design schools in London last week, as its young designer Amesh Wijesekara won the international fashion award at the world-famous Graduate Fashion Week UK. This rare honour for a Sri Lankan design campus is the first of its kind for the country and is considered a globally recognised testament for excellence in fashion education.

Currently, AOD has set Sri Lanka’s benchmark in fashion and design education. This is through its own unique industry-relevant approach and the powerful partnership with the acclaimed Northumbria University UK for a curriculum and degrees recognised anywhere in the world. Furthermore, AOD has established close links with the world creative capital London, to harness British supremacy in all areas of design including education, platforms and career opportunities. This has allowed AOD graduates to access the same opportunities as young designers in Europe or North America. Amesh, the most recent winner of Graduate Fashion Week UK International Award, is one such talented young designer who is reaping the benefits of AOD’s education and guidance into the international fashion arena.

Amesh Wijesekara was first brought into the limelight by AOD last year for his remarkable work that won him recognition at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Awards Sri Lanka. Following this, AOD’s international fashion academics nominated him for the Graduate Fashion Week UK and to gain work experience at the world’s premier trend-forecasting agency The Future Laboratory in London. Post his success at the Graduate Fashion Week 2016 last Wednesday, Amesh is now being guided by AOD to commence training with UK’s legendary Zandra Rhodes’ studio while the award win has also paved the way for him to showcase at London Fashion Week’s Fashion Scout Runway in September. AOD prides itself in not only educating great design talent, but also guaranteeing them amazing opportunities for global experiences and employment. Amesh is a former student of the St. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and joined AOD to discover a career path that nurtured his outstanding creative abilities. A talented young designer with two major awards already under his belt, Amesh shows great promise to be Sri Lanka’s first star in international fashion – a role AOD has been grooming him for since discovering his talent.

AOD founder Linda Speldewinde stated that AOD’s vision is to create world-class graduates who can keep moving the industry forward: “the fashion and apparel industry of Sri Lanka means a lot to the country as one of the biggest employers and revenue makers. The graduates we create at AOD would either feed directly into supporting this industry to help it progress into a design-led future or they will be out there in the international fashion scene helping to carve out Sri Lanka’s reputation as a fash- ion hub in South Asia. Amesh belongs to the second group and we are extremely proud of what he has achieved. Winning against design schools from Milan, Paris, New York and Hong Kong was a big win for Sri Lanka. This is an amazing achievement and we got here thanks to all our industry partners who make everything we do possible. AOD was so honoured to be invited to participate but to go on and win the award was a really big deal. We have been working on creating an international star from Sri Lanka and we think we are on our way now to get there”

AOD Principal Karen MacLeod, who herself is an experienced fashion designer from Europe, stated that AOD’s links with the creative industries in the UK and design-led businesses here, has helped the school to shape outstanding graduates who can work and succeed anywhere in the world: “The education at AOD prepares students to become design professionals who can work anywhere in the world. Our graduates winning international award after award and gaining successful careers all over the world goes on to show that we are getting our education right. Amesh’s victory adds to this, and also stands as a major win for Sri Lankan fashion. We are humbled with the prestige and the trust that it generates in what we deliver.”

To discuss opportunities for education and successful careers in fashion and design, contact AOD on 0775980141, 0115867772/3 or email info@aod.lk. Visit AOD between 9am-5pm on weekdays at 29, Lauries Road Colombo 4 or check www.aod.lk

Gemmology is the scientific study of gemstones and a gemmologist is the professional who is qualified in this field. To become an accredited gemmologist, one should obtain qualifications from an internationally reputed gemmological organization. Gemstones are tested and certified by gemmologits. When obtaining a gemstone report it is important to check that it has been issued by a reputable, independent gem testing laboratory and certified by gemmologists qualified from an internationally reputed organization.

Many of qualified gemmologists also have jobs within the gem and jewellery trade, whilst others can find self employment in testing and certification of gemstones or enter the trade directly, into retail, valuations, appraisals and buying and selling. Popular organizations in gem and jewellery trade wish to employ gemmologists to improve their internal and international trade activities.

Studying for the Gemmology Diploma is the ultimate kick start to a career in gemmology. You will gain a thorough understanding of gemstones and the gem industry and learn transferable key skills, such as how to record and present data accurately and how to evaluate and think critically about issues within the trade. You will also employ key skills such as problem-solving, communication and individual thinking.

To obtain full qualifications and to become an internationally accredited gemmologist, one should successfully complete a Diploma in gemmology, from any of the internationally reputed organization, such as that from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, (Gem-A). Passing Gem-A Diploma and elected to FGA status is the internationally highest gemmology qualifications, since the Gem-A gemmology courses take the subject deeper and prepare the students, where excellent observational and interpretive skills are needed and meet the real challenge in gemstone testing and identification. Gem-A Gemmology Diploma has been accredited to Level 6 qualification by Ofqual, the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland

Commenting on the FGA status former CEO Jack Ogden, of Gem-A states -“The Gem-A exams are robust, fully accredited exams and their attainment will bring an incredible sense of achievement. Nothing guarantees a job - so much is down to attitude and personality - but FGA on a CV certainly makes you stand out as someone special and of status!”

Allied Gemmological Institute & Laboratory (AGIL) in Colombo is the Accredited Centre of Gem-A in Sri Lanka, under the world wide ATC network which provides facilities to follow the Gem-A gemmology courses in Sri Lanka. This institute has been established in 1999 by Dayananda Dillimuni, a Consultant Gemmologist and is fully equipped with all teaching aids and gemmological instruments to conduct teaching courses according to the specification of the accredited teaching centre programme of Gem-A.

AGIL is also engaged in testing and certification of gemstones for the public.

Gemmology Course of Gem-A has to be completed in two units- Foundation Certificate and the Diploma courses, both of which are conducted at the Allied Gemmological Institute & Laboratory and the examinations are held by the British Council Centre in Colombo in agreement with Gem-A.

New Gem-A courses will be started in the 1st week of July, 2016, to prepare for the 2017 January examinations. Applications are available for early registration and obtain the study packs to get prepared for the beginning of lessons. Inquiries be made from Allied Gemmological Institute & Laboratory at 46.2/B, Dias Building, Galle Road (Close to Galle Face Junction), in Colombo 03, Sri Lanka. Tele. 94-774 720 193. E-mail: dilli2@ sltne.lk