HSBC Colombo Fashion Week 2014 comes to a grand close !
The grand finale of HSBC CFW 2014 took place tonight (February 8) at The Colombo Hilton. Designers mesmerised the audience with their stunning collections.
Yolande
Yoland Aluwihare-Holm took her first entrepreneurial steps into designing and producing garments in 1970 when she experimented with the traditional Sri Lankan batik with silk painting and embroidery techniques.
Arugam Bay celebrates Ceylon 1670 by finding its inspiration from the old coats of arms of the Dutch period. This collection of Arugam Bay was inspired the elements, colours and old spellings of the Coat of Arms. Th e collection brings the inspiration alive in a contemporary manner while holding on to its design philosophy of contradiction and humour, while celebrating the colours of Sri Lanka and ‘easy beach living’ in a stylish manner.
Amilani envisions sleek fashionable links between fabrics and Sri Lankan history in her high-end ready-towear fashion brand ‘Amilani Perera’ which was successfully launched at Colombo Fashion Week 2013.
Amilani’s collection is inspired by the ‘hansa puttuwa’ (pair of swans) which is a traditional Sri Lankan motif. The symbol of two entwined swans signify the elegance and beauty of a woman and the majestic masculinity of a man. This Amilani Perera collection which was inspired by the two swans, features a twist between muscularity and feminity in womenswear clothing.
Fouzul Hameed. Th e name spells ‘legend’ in the local men’s fashion scene. This year’s collection saw the Fouzul Hameed’s exclusive Fusion Look, Elegance of Milan and the Red Carpet Look collections, which bring out the ‘Power Look’ of any man.
British designer Catherine Rawson graduated in 2004 with a First Class Degree in Fashion Design with Knitwear from Central St. Martins College, London. Now living in Galle, Catherine runs THe oLD RaiLwAy shop and cafe along with her husband, who with a passion for antiques, provide a quirky backdrop for the clothes themselves. THe oLD RaiLwAy shop is a unique boutique selling casual jersey garments right through to evening wear.
Inspired by her love of experimenting with combinations of traditional and modern, Charini Suriyage has made a mark for herself in the ethnical fashion arena by being the first Sri Lankan to take part at the London Fashion Week. The brand ‘Charini’ has won many local and international awards and earned recognition for the ethnical stance taken throughout the design and manufacturing process.
Under the slogan Fashion For Development, Bibi Russell set up in 1995 Bibi Productions Fashion for Development to save crafts people and help revive their dreams.
“When people see my collections, I want them to understand and appreciate all the work and effort that has gone into them. I want to preserve the heritage of my country, foster creativity, provide employment, empower women and contribute towards the eradication of poverty.”
Mevan graduated from the Fine Arts Academy Willem de Kooning Rotterdam in 2005 and obtained his Post graduation studies: Fashion in business: Amsterdam Fashion
Institute & Syntens 2011.
Sonali Dharmawardena is essentially an artist who has used several mediums of expression throughout her life. Her 2014 collection represents evening skies, Deep Ocean, Unifying
the world and people.
Photos by Manoj Ratnayake, Nisal Baduge, Pradeep Dilrukshana, Kushan Pathiraja and Waruna Wanniarachchi
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