Mercedes-Benz Fashion & Apparel Awards - Sri Lanka to Premiere at SLDF 2015

Sri Lanka Fashion & Apparel Awards has joined hands with Mercedes-Benz - the luxurious international automobile brand for style and glamour. The partnership forged via the local custodian for Mercedes-Benz, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), was announced recently at a glamorous runway launch.

Entries are now being received for the show which will take place this November as part of the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) and award winners will have the opportunity of attending the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2016 in Istanbul.

Sri Lanka Fashion & Apparel Awards initiated back in 2013 will now be repositioned as Mercedes-Benz Fashion & Apparel Awards Sri Lanka. Here, local designers and apparel companies will gain the ability to leverage on the glamour and prestige of a worldwide icon for style.

Rajeev Pandithage, General Manager of Sales & Parts at DIMO/custodian for Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka stated that the brand's relationship with style and fashion has been a continuing one across the world; "We're proud to represent Mercedes-Benz and join hands with the biggest platform to recognise fashion and apparel talent in Sri Lanka. As a brand name that plays a significant role in the development of fashion talent all over the world, we hope to extend the same support to homegrown talent and brands along with new opportunities for the local apparel industry which we greatly respect."

Said Linda Speldewinde, the founder of Sri Lanka Design Festival "While SLDF remains the most influential B2B platform for fashion and apparel, among its many important components is recognising and creating opportunities for innovation and unique talent coming out of the industry and the country - this essential platform is what MercedesBenz has come into support and co-create from 2015 onwards with us at SLDF. We're honoured to have such a prestigious style icon elevating our event to their worldwide network."

Currently, the event has a list of celebrity judges such as celebrated fashion educationalist Prof. Emeritus Jane Rapley OBE and European fashion business connoisseur Peter Ingwersen who led brands like LEVIS, Noir and Illuminati over an illustrious career.

Expectations are high for an inspiring line-up of talent, previously-unheard-of technology and innovation from local apparel and an exciting finale show with an international audience in November.

The event is supported by Sri Lanka Apparel while Wijeya Newspapers is the official print media partner.

Entries to the Mercedes-Benz Sri Lanka Fashion and Apparel Awards should be sent in before July 30.

To find out more and to download applications, log on to www.srilankafashionandapparelawards.com or call Amreeya on 076 7771488 or 011 586 7772.