The Managing Director of Good Times PVT Ltd (Sri Lanka/Maldives), Mr Dilan Jayasuriya introduced his partner Mr Harsh Bedi from India to help inspire young designers across the country to achieve their goals and become successful. 

Good Times Company has organised many events over the years including fashion shows and beauty pageants and is also involved in developing tourism in Sri Lanka. 
It is in such an event that he met the skilful fashion designer and former model, Harsh Bedi.

The Indian Fashion Designer and Stylist who is involved in projects for Bollywood movies and film stars, gladly shared his experience in the fashion industry by answering a few questions and giving out great advice. 

Q1. How would you define Fashion?

Fashion is all about looks. It involves looking good, comfort in clothing and lots of compliments.

Q2. How is your experience in the fashion industry? 

It’s good. It’s different. Before, I used to be a model so I learnt a lot. Now I am training models, I am grooming them with my past experiences. I make sure they don’t face the struggles that I have been through. 

When you get into the industry, you usually don’t know who to contact as there are many agencies that work for the economy. 
To be honest, at first I didn’t know what a ramp was. There are many ramps. T ramp, U ramp, D ramp. And not to mention the lighting, sounds, walking styles. I slowly learned and got into many agencies. 

Q3. What made you quit modelling and move into fashion designing? 

Modelling was my hobby but designing is my passion. And I have always wanted to be in the fashion field. It was just like a shift from one bedroom to another bedroom. It was like shifting from the smaller bedroom into the bigger one. 
Along with modelling, I used to be a fitness trainer. I was learning American council on exercise. So I was like “Okay, let me have a shift”. For a better income, training and due to the fact that I was always into fashion. 

I started learning designing and gaining experience. And later did my own fashion shows.

Q4. What is your favourite part of being a designer? 

My favourite part of being a designer is client satisfaction and happiness of wearing my designs. When my clients praise my work, I feel that it’s all worth the effort even if I don’t get paid much.

Q5. Can you tell us a bit about your collections?

I am more of an Indian ethnic type. I do more of hand designing called hand embroidery which is more in demand in India. I had to travel and research organic fabrics and varieties of colours. In India, there is more demand for cotton. 

When it comes to shows, it usually depends on the theme. Or I have to make my own theme. I prefer to always go with ethnic. That’s a decent and Indian look. If it is a long run show, more than 15 minutes, I go with Western style costumes. 

Q6. What are your common colour choices? 

As I know, most females like black. I use the dark colours. Men like blue, royal blue...the different shades, beige and cream.

Q7. Where do you get your inspirations from?

My dad was a film distributor and I saw the costumes he used to provide for the actors. I also saw pictures that inspired me as well. Designing is all about imagination. To imagine, put into papers, and create. I create some designs within 15 minutes and some take days. I need a relaxed mind and peace when I design. I am never “done” with my designs. It just goes on. 

Q8. How do you keep up with the trends?

There are two ways. You either create a trend or follow a trend. When creating a trend, you need a celebrity so that people tend to follow. Or else, you have to follow a trend by designing something closest to the latest styles. We cannot make a replica since it will be fake. We have to use trends as a reference.

Q9. Do you have any types of clothing that you dislike and tend to avoid?  

I avoid wearing clothes that are not very comfortable on me. Tight fitting clothes and light colours are the ones that I do not like.

Q10. Do you have different approaches for menswear and womenswear?  

There are many options when designing for women. We can mix the Indo and Western accessories as well. 
Compared to women, men have less options in accessorising. And as I know, most men prefer to wear watches, etc. on a daily basis.

Q11. Would you like to say anything to the young designers? 

If they are planning to do their own boutique, own brand, or online business, then a good finance and base client is important. I started with zero clients and now I have hundreds. In a business prospective, there’s a lot of price differences. It’s always better to check and make use of even the minor price difference. Save some money always. It will always help you to fulfil your dreams and desires. 

And after completing graduation, if a goal is not yet set, go for Master’s. Don’t waste time sitting at home. You can never be lazy. If you want to be lazy, it is best to find another job.
Always create new, different things, think out of the box and be a creator whom people follow.
These days the trend is always behind the brands. People are ‘brand-freaked’. I believe you should go with the quality than the brand. Brand is just publicity so that people feel ‘Wow’.

Q12. What do you think of Sri Lankan Cultural Clothing?  

It is very nice. I feel ethnicity in it. Very decent and colourful. I would maybe make something in India so that I can take Sri Lankan culture to our country.