Today I feature a man with a good eye for fashion, and he has dressed men and women with fine cut and finish. It was in 2008, that Damith Eranga Cooray ventured out to meet potential clients. Armed with a collection of supplier sample books and a fine-tuned skill to his name, he took on the bespoke tailoring industry a stitch at a time to make his mark in a niche market. 

Now KIITO Bespoke functions as a made-to-order tailoring service to meet the needs of the busy executive, the connoisseur or the one-off customer. Damith Eranga Cooray who is a graduate of the Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Tailoring for him is not simply business as usual, but a vocation combined with a passion to serve. Today he has given me a few looks which suits any man with a busy work life. 

What sparked your interest in fashion? 

My creativity. I had two options to explore my creativity it was either architecture or fashion designing after my AL’s. so I decided to be a fashion designer to run my own label one day. 

What were your inspirations for the designs you create? 

Colours, shapes of nature, herringbone, birds eye and shark skin are some good examples when nature meets fashion to create some magic. 

What are your plans for the future, with this brand as there are many in the market? 

There were many brands at the time we started. But we did something different. So I believe our uniqueness will take us to the next level of bespoke tailoring in Sri Lanka. 

What is it that you featured in this shoot? 

We gave you four looks, bringing the sharp and most elegant look for a man in the colours we chose and this is something anyone can pull off. 

How do you balance creativity with business? 

Well, that is the most difficult part when a business starts growing. From fabric selection to final fit on, we need to maintain what our customer wants. So I'm lucky that I have a team of professional craftsmen behind me to process my creativity. 

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your fashion company? 

Biggest lesson is understanding how important it is to be a tailor to run a tailored clothing brand. 

What's the meaning of the name KIITO? 

Raw silk thread in Japanese is called Kiito. We use silk as a fabric to make clothes. It’s nice to have a meaning behind the brand, so I picked KIITO. 

Where do you see KIITO in 5 years’ time? 

We are planning to have one or two stores internationally within the next five years. Also, we are in the process of launching a formal shirt collection in the near future. 

What advice would you give to aspiring fashion designers? 

Think technically. 

Speaking to Arantha, the man with the correct eye for a perfect photograph, here's what he had to say about the brand and the shoot... 

How was it working with KIITO, as you are a client yourself? 

Working with KIITO was such an easy task as I am one of his favourite customers and I always like the taste he has with men's suiting. He always makes sure his designs are on par with international trends. Most of all, KIITO knows the meaning of BESPOKE tailoring. Every suit I have of his is made to fit in every way. 

What are your thoughts on made to measure suits? 

Made to measure is so important to the man who is looking for a class in what he wears. In other countries bespoke tailoring comes at a very high cost. I guess every man should have fine tailored suiting in his wardrobe. 

What did you think of the collection they put across for this shoot? 

They were showcasing some nice double breasted suits which is now in vogue. 

What do you say was your favourite suit? 

I really liked the dark blue two button suit with a waistcoat as it gave a great fitting look on you. 

Designer - KIITO Bespoke 
Photographer - Arantha Sirimanne (ARANTHA PHOTOGRAPHY) 
Video - X IRIS (Nuwan and Menaka)