Dressing up for Sri Lanka Design Festival

By Ranee Mohamed

Interwoven by a common interest, coloured by their passion to succeed and help others succeed, the people on the platform of the British Council Auditorium on Tuesday, October 27 were not gathered here by accident but by design.

Announcing the pattern of the Sri Lanka Design Festival to be held from November 27 to December 5, Gill Westaway, Country Director of the British Council,  Ranmali Mirchandani, Manager Programme Delivery, British Council, Manisha Gunawardene, Head of Programme Development of the Academy of Design, Mihiri de Silva, Industry Consultant for SLDF, Nilmini Jayasinghe, Consultant for Sri Lanka Apparel and Linda Speldewinde,  Founder and Managing Director of the Academy of Design drew the curtain to a show with a blending of international and local  happenings, talent and fervour in store for Sri Lanka and the world from November 27 to December 5.

The plans also drove home  the power of the hand that traditionally rocked the cradle which today is capable of  rocking the world with their capabilities, talent, determination and own personalised successes.

Corporate celebrity, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Industry, Rohantha Athukorale who gave a masculine touch to the press conference applauded and gave us the figures of success the plans for a great design festival poured forth.

The website of the festival was also launched by Linda Speldewinde.

The Sri Lanka Design Festival is spearheaded by the Academy of Design (AOD) in association with the Export Development Board ( EDB) and partnered by the Joint Apparel Association, Brandix, the Government of Sri Lanka through the Export Development Board and the British Council which emphasizes private public partnership towards developing this industry.

With Sri Lanka earmarked  to be the Emerging Sustainable Fashion Sourcing Destination the Sri Lanka Design Festival to be held later this month is perhaps the first patch of colour of a greater and more enthralling design for the country in the years to come.

The week will highlight local and international design talent, showcase the manufacturing experience of the apparel industry in Sri Lanka and drive the ethical positioning of the ‘garments  without guilt’ initiative (Sri Lanka sans sweatshops and child labour remains foremost in the list for ethical manufacturing practices). With the ‘seeing is believing’ motto in mind tours have also been arranged to Brandix and washing plants, and eco-friendly manufacture will also be highlighted. Foreign visitors will be able  to view first hand the ethical manufacturing plants and practices.

The best known names of the international arena in sustainable fashion and the international fashion press will adorn Sri Lanka at this one of a kind design festival.

Colin Mc Dowell, fashion press like WGSN, Drapers, Just Style and key buyers like Top Shop, Warehouse, ASOS, Monsoon and international designers who will be doing special collections for Sri Lanka will add glamour to the festival.

As the spotlight turned on  Linda Speldewinde,  Managing Director of the Academy of Design, her unique successes both in terms of the IYFEA  (International Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award) and her contribution to the fashion industry the world over through her Academy of Design drew the gasps.

Country Director of the British Council hailing Linda Speldewinde’s achievements said that she was delighted to see Speldewinde, the winner of the IYFEA award doing something for Sri Lanka with her award.  Gill Westaway said that the winner of the IYFEA 2010 would also be announced.  Gill Westaway and the British Council helped Linda Speldewinde to dream her dream.

“This award inspired me to stage the first ever design festival in Sri Lanka,” said Linda Speldewinde.

Apart from the apparel and the fashion industry, the week-long event will also showcase Sri Lankan product development capabilities in accessories and highlight the strengths in the backward integration that exists in Sri Lanka.  The best known manufacturing companies of products such as designer shoes and accessories will also be on show.

A fashion show, divided into four segments categorising kids’ clothing, performance clothing, casual wear and intimates is also expected to be a main highlight. From pioneers in the industry to relatively  new manufacturers, the festival is expected to pick up and take off like a week long catwalk. Penguins, Hidramanis, are but two names that are to be also associated.

The third segment of the exhibition is another admirable feature — which will be housed at Mount Lavinia Hotel – Sri Lanka’s own elastics, laces, labels, and embroidery.

The Sri Lanka Design Festival promises to be a cut above, and if one were to judge by the determination, success and contributions of those involved, the festival does call for partying as an accessory.