Life Online Presents : Meet The Designers - Rachel Raj 

Swim Week Colombo is set to take place from the 24 – 26 of June at the Colombo Port and is a host to a number of designers, both local and international. Having collaborated with reputed swimwear manufacturer, Linea Aqua, Swim Week Colombo will present 14 Sri Lankan and international designers on the runway. 

Partnering up with Swim Week Colombo, Life Online puts the spotlight on designer brand Rachel Raj. 

Rachel Raj offers a range of luxury ready to wear clothing, designed and made in Sri Lanka and is set to launch its debut swimwear collection at Swim Week Colombo. The collection embodies the ethos of the brand; luxury, sensuality and sophistication with a touch of glamour. 

What does swimwear mean to you? 

It is empowering and iconic. The invention of the swimsuit gave women more uninhibited freedom. 

What has been the most important thing you’ve kept in mind when designing swimwear? 

Well, I’m always tried to keep to the ethos of Rachel Raj. The collection is designed keeping women of all silhouettes in mind. 

Creating the right fit in swimwear is very different to other clothing apparel, did you struggle with this at all? 

Yes! Because the fabrics used in swimwear are very different to what the brand as a whole identifies with simply because Lycra is definitely not free flowing. 

Many women are self-conscious about their bodies in bikinis because they compare themselves to models in magazines. What does your collection reflect when it comes to body image? 

The Rachel Raj ethos has always been to appreciate the beauty of women being different from each other. This includes swimwear. We have created silhouettes that will give women the confidence to appreciate their own beauty and not compare themselves to women in magazines. 

Each garment in your collection is infused with a story, where did the core inspiration come from? 

Inspiration for this debut collection was drawn from the women of the late 1950's and 1960's who were iconic in their time and still are today. 

By Panchali Illankoon