What To Expect From The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways 2016 

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways 2016 is derived from the first ever Mercedes-Benz Fashion and Apparel Awards held in Sri Lanka in 2015. Celebrating Sri Lanka’s multi-billion dollar fashion manufacturing industry and cutting–edge design talent, this year’s runway theme is all about ‘Travel Fashion Destination’. 

With Sri Lanka being known only as a tourist travel destination, the Mercedes – Benz Fashion Runways (MBFR) recognizes the enormous potential for Sri Lanka to become a travel fashion destination and be a new addition to the international fashion calendar From exotic beaches around the country and the ancient ruins seeped with history to the diverse culture and many forms of spirituality, Sri Lanka encompasses all that it takes to become the perfect travel fashion destination. 

This November, MBFR invites you to make Sri Lanka your fashion portal and the passport to sustainable style with soul. Designers and brands will showcase unique collections rooted around travelling to exotic destinations. From slipping into something comfortable on the plane, dressing for your arrival and dressing up for cultural events to finding the perfect swimsuit for a day at the beach and the right choice for travelling on the road to the many architectural heritages; MBFR’s collections will be the only fashion you need on your next travel fashion destination trip. 

The 3 day runway show will feature 3 main pillars that compose the local fashion sphere. Opening with the ‘Upcoming Designers of Sri Lanka’, the show will feature upcoming design talent that establishes a new aesthetic unique to the island with designers from all over the country incorporating cutting edge fashion made with low-tech traditional craft.  The second day runway will be based on Travel Fashion Collections for 2017 and will be attended by a global audience of fashion authorities in buying, designing, retailing and media to highlight Sri Lanka’s apparel industry reaching new heights. The final runway will feature Emerging Talent by providing a platform for young, talented design graduates to showcase new and innovative fashion. 

Founder and Managing Director of AOD and Sri Lanka Design Festival, Linda Splendewinde tells us that MBFR was a result of their quest in figuring out a way to build the Sri Lankan fashion and apparel industry to an interntational position and also provide ample opportunity for the young designers at AOD. “In thinking about a brand position for Sri Lanka, we came up with idea of Travel Fashion to fill a global void that we had identified which fitted in very well with we have to offer from the fashion, apparel and design sector. This will be something we can own for the future for Sri Lanka.” 

Designers and brands such as Rum Punch, Lonali, Nithya, Urban Island, Sajee, Isuru, Shehani, Senani and Nethmi are amongst many are to be featured. Each collection will be unique and will endow global recognition to Sri Lankan brands as being ‘authentic season-less travel fashion’ and would thereby, make Sri Lanka the First Travel Fashion Destination in the world. 

MBFR 2016 will take place on the 4th, 5th and 6th of November at the SLECC. The shows will be live streamed through the website www.mbsrilankafashionrunways.com and the Facebook page Mercedes Benz Fashion Runways Sri Lanka giving access to millions to watch the unveiling of contemporary season-less travel fashion from Sri Lanka. 

Local and global customers will also be given the opportunity to shop the runways from the Spring Summer Runway 2017 through the Mercedes Benz Fashion Runways Website. 

Photographs courtesy AOD