Wider inspiration
Senani Wickramasinghe is moved by what she sees
She is inspired by everything around her and expresses this in her inherent creativity. Her collections are simple and stylish, young but ageless, classic yet contemporary. And her designs are a juxtaposition of colour on canvas that reveal subtle details of her inspirations – whether by nature, art, architecture, history, music, film or people.
An ardent follower of the fashion weeks in London, Paris, New York and Milan – in order to gain a firsthand look and feel of constantly evolving fashion trends – Senani Wickramasinghe also pores over Vogue and View for added inspiration.
“It’s imperative for a designer to constantly research new trends and innovative ideas that are out there,” Senani insists, adding that maintaining a sketchbook is also necessary to make sure that no idea is forgotten in the midst of going about one’s work and daily life.
She is currently working on a collection with denim inspired handloom and batik, which reflects modern-day weaving and colour craft with graphic textures and minimally handcrafted batik designs. The eco-factor is her use of natural fibre fabrics including linen, cotton, poplin and viscose, mixing and matching these into handwoven fabric.
The online fashion store fashionmarket.lk recently showcased Senani’s contemporary kaftan collection combining textured handloom panels with tie-dye batik techniques for a uniquely creative canvas.
She also retails at the FMLK Phygital Store and says that her kaftan collection “is for the edgy modern working woman who also likes to make a statement about her art and culture while being stylishly trendy.”
Winning numerous awards for art in her schooldays, Senani harboured ambitions to make fashion a lifelong career. Live drawing and sketching were her favourite pastimes but she obtained a degree in IT – although she confesses she has absolutely no interest in it.
An introduction to the Academy of Design (AOD) by a friend proved to be the turning point in her dream career and she notes that “from day one, AOD gave me direction to map out my own journey.”
“The foundation programme gave me an indepth understanding of fashion philosophy through colour theories, fashion history, live drawings and study tours. It was a dream come true to qualify with a British degree while being in Sri Lanka.”
Moreover, exposure to international brands, designers, markets and customer bases, as well as interacting with artisans, has helped Senani Wickramasinghe make the best of her career.
Senani finds her career in design exciting, creative and innovative, as well as frequently transforming and evolving. “It’s a career that pushes my boundaries of creativity to a new level every time,” she enthuses.
It’s imperative for a designer to constantly research new trends