HSBC Colombo Fashion Week in its 11^th year is all geared up to take yet another milestone step towards their goal of putting Sri Lankan fashion design on the world stage.

Popularly described as ‘the backbone of Sri Lanka’s fashion industry’, CFW 2014 will extend to an entire week unlike previous years and will showcase 33 events. The theme for this year will be ‘Fashion that is infinite’.

“Our biggest achievement is our pride in nurturing Sri Lankan brands” said Ajai V singh, President and Director of Colombo Fashion Week, at a press conference held on the 9^th of Jan.

 

This year they will concentrate on further developing young designers by creating CFW days at universities, allowing students to showcase their work in 3 Bright Spark shows.

Another area of focus will be creating new retail formats to develop fashion retail, set up to guide up-and-coming designers.

CFW will once again team up with the National Crafts Council for a Crafts in Fashion Program set up with the initiative to support and develop the local crafts and textile industry.

The program was introduced in 2007 has since continued to be an important and dynamic part of CFW’s journey.

 

 

A new Food and Fashion program will also be featured this year at the Hilton with a celebrity chef coming in to create special menus during the week.

“Our aim every year is to think of innovative ways to include the prospect of fashion design in Sri Lanka and to nurture new talent in the local design industry” said Ajai.

Patrick Gallagher, CEO of HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives said, “Throughout our 7 year strategic partnership with CFW, we have seen how a simple fashion show has evolved into a multi faceted event, promising designers as well as all other partners something bigger every year.We are extremely happy about the progress made thus far. We hope the event will continue to propel the fashion industry for local and international audiences.”

 

 

Starting from the 3^rd to the 5^th of Feb, 9 designers at university level will showcase their work at the Bright Sparks shows, while 20 local designers and 10 international designers will be taking on the main shows from the 6^th to the 8^th of Feb.

Keep your schedule free as CFW 2014 is an event not to be missed!

 

 

 

By Ashanthi Navaratne