A chat with Tharushi Dabare... 

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak” - Rachel Zoe 

Tharushi Dabare is currently a fashion student in her senior year at Academy Of Design Colombo. Her personal  interest in fashion is slanted towards simple chic clothing in women’s wear.  Her inspiration is usually centered on suitable eons in historical time frame or conferring to her peculiar interests.

“I want to provide my clothing to the ultimate fashionable lady, who is willing to purchase good quality attire. My choice of clothing is modestly elegant attire, conversely when designing, I do not hesitate to experiment on inventive gear,” she says.

What sparked your interest in fashion?

The interest for fashion came about with my love for sketching. Initially it wasn’t fashion related, it began from sketching stills of people or whatever caught my interest. I also used to sketch my thoughts and ideas of how I would want to be dressed, and later on it turned into something more. I would imagine clothes for the modern woman.

Your celebrity choice for style and why?

I like celebrities who are into minimalism. Amal Clooney and Kendall Jenner. The latter can pull off  any look effortlessly. Even a simple LBD looks great on her.

Are there any types of clothing that you avoid wearing?

I tend to avoid printed patterns, I also do not wear clothing that have shine or glaze to them.

How do influences from outside of Sri Lanka find their way into your work?

To create a collection, I need to be aware of what’s happening globally in the fashion industry. I keep myself updated through online platforms such as WGSN Vogues and Style.com.

What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed your creative designs?

Right now I’m interested in sustainable fashion , which will be included into my current collection, using Sri Lankan artisans and their craft.

What advice would you give to young designers?

The only advice I can impart to young and upcoming designers like myself is to be passionate about what you do and work hard to achieve your goals. Use your artistic vision and marketing intelligence to create pioneering work to proceed in the industry.

Interviewed by Sandra De Zilva