HSBC Colombo Fashion Week RESORT 1- 4 October: Leading the way for Resort Wear Fashion in Asia

Colombo Fashion Week (CFW), which introduced its Resort edition as a single day event in 2012, is now a four-day showcase of the best of resort wear fashion, which includes fifteen ‘Bright Spark’ shows at the start of the week leading up to twenty main shows by established designers.

CFW is one of two fashion weeks in Asia which has introduced a dedicated resort wear season in its annual calendar, in addition to its Spring/Summer season. In just two years it has grown to become a four-day event and has shown an ever-increasing growth pattern. The HSBC CFW Resort Wear Show is unique because it takes place at a resort and this time Jetwing Blue and Beach in Negombo will play host to the highly anticipated event.

Arugam Bay Beachwear at CFW Resort Show 2013

Commenting on why resort wear is being focused on as part of CFW’s calendar showcase, Ajai V Singh, President, Colombo Fashion Week stated, “I believe that the Resort edition of HSBC, CFW is vital for us as we want to play on our strengths and create a season which is relevant to us in Sri Lanka which can make us shine by the grace of God, and enable us to make a mark internationally. Resort wear is a growing category and we want to lead its growth in this part of the world. We can’t do much in terms of fashion with the Fall and Winter seasons, so for designer businesses to grow we need a second season along with Spring and Summer. Two years ago we found that resort wear worked well as our second season. With continuous innovation, we will keep driving this category to greater heights, creating more opportunities for Sri Lankan fashion designers and the industry.”

Bibi Russell at CFW Resort Show 2013

Singh further added, “There’s a valid reason for promoting resort wear, it’s not just part of our efforts to make Sri Lanka a destination for fashion entertainment, it’s part of our plan to make an international impact in the fashion industry. As our plans for CFW’s growth continued to unfold CFW became part of Asian Fashion Week (AFW). Five Sri Lankan designers who showcased their work at CFW, were selected to show their collections at AFW in Indonesia.  Sri Lankan designer, Sonali Dharmawardena even had the honour of opening Asian Fashion Week this year. Colombo Fashion Week is now being recognized internationally for the impact it is making on the  local fashion industry and every aspect of fashion in Sri Lanka. CFW is one of the three main Fashion Weeks in Asia which have been running for more than 10years.”

Every year, as part of the CFW plan, new additions are made to the seasonal CFW calendar.  This year CFW Resort will see designer Pop-up stores being created with the support of TATA housing. TATA housing held a competition among final year architecture students and the designs of two students were selected and awarded. A total of 15 Pop-up stores for each designer brand will be set up at the venue, Jetwing Beach, enabling guests to see the latest collections in a well-designed retail environment.

At this year, as part of the Fashion + Food series of CFW, a Michellin star chef from Paris and an internationally acclaimed Malaysian chef will be at the event. The chefs will provide delightful cuisines every evening, bringing in a design element to the show from the culinary arts. There will be special menus available on 1and 2 October, the day of the ‘Bright Spark’ shows and the menus will continue to evolve till the show comes to a close on 5 October.

Indi at CFW Resort Show 2013

Along with 17 established Sri Lankan fashion designers, there will be three international heavyweights at the HSBC CFW Resort Wear Show who will add an interesting dimension to the show. Abraham & Thakore, a designer duo and label from the Indian fashion industry which has won accolades and recognitions around world, will be showing in Sri Lanka for the first time. Harare, a label owned by Caroline Fuss will also show at the HSBC CFW Resort Wear Show. Caroline showed at New York Fashion Week just last week and was well received by the fashion community. The third international designer to be featured at the show includes a CFW loyalist and the show’s best international ambassador; Bibi Russell. She is a world-renowned fashion designer and icon who is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO.

In addition to several ramp events this not-for-profit annual event stays true to its vision of developing and uplifting Colombo’s fashion design industry through its behind-the-scenes mentoring process and workshops.  This year at the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week workshop will be held on the 4 October and will  focus on a theme titled, ‘The use of indigenous textiles in fashion’. Renowned designers Bibi Russell, Harare and Abraham & Takore will also join the workshop to share their knowledge and experience.

The management of CFW is grateful to its likeminded partners who believe in the show’s vision and help make it a continuous success; HSBC, Colombo Jewellery Stores, Land Rover, Jetwing, Ponds, TATA Housing, Vision Care, Spa Ceylon, Brandix, Wineworld, Hameedia, Hellmann Logistics, Leo Burnett, Cotton Collection, zMessenger, Ramani Fernando Salons, Mal-key rent-a-car, Fashion TV, Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Daily FT, Hi!, Lanka Woman and Life-Online.

The HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Resort Show, now in its third year, premiers from the 1 to 4 October 2014 at Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Beach. The HSBC CFW Resort Show will end with a fabulous themed after-party on 4 October following the final show. Anticipated to be the party event of the season, tickets for the after party will soon be on sale. Those interested can follow the CFW official website on http://www.colombofashionweek.com and the official CFW Facebook page on http://www.facebook.com/colombofashionweek for regular updates.