With fashion stores popping up a dime a dozen some are hit and miss, however in the case of Shay Int. it certainly is a hit! Launched by the vivacious Shayani Alwis, Shay Int. is a store that has  a great selection of dresses and separates.

A graduate of the Academy of Design which is helping in no small measure to create great designers in Sri Lanka , Shyani says “ Designing has been my passion ever since I was a child.

I would take my mum’s saris and dress my sister up. This spurned me to select a career in design. After I graduated from AOD I did an internship with MAS Linea Aqua and then launched my own clothing line in November last year”

“I just love designing. I have always been artistic and although my first goal was to be an architect, I realised my passion for passion for fashion surpassed my love for architecture. I used to collect a lot of high end fashion magazines and that too inspired me to be a designer”

My collection does not have a name as such but inspired by the eras of 1920’s and 30’s. I have created a range of summer tops, crop tops, skater dresses, evening dresses, casual maxi dresses, skirts, pants and shorts.

Shyani says she loves Ellie Saab and Celine and her designers of choice. Her muse changes from season to season and currently it is  Francoise Hardy, a French singer and actress who is very hip and  well on trend with fashion making her own fashion statement.

Outlining her plans for the future Shayani says “My next step is to launch my own exclusive line which will target the high end customer. It will be bespoke,  extravagant designer clothing. I would also like to launch a menswear collection during the year. Taking part in Colombo Fashion Week is also on my wish list”

Using a selection of chiffon, cotton, linen, silk and four way stretch fabric the clothes which range from XS to XL ( UK sizes 8-16) are functional, hip and can appeal to an age range. 

Shayani has understood that Colombo’s fashionistas like to buy one of a kind clothing and in a wise move has limited the number of pieces of each design she creates thus giving her collection a sense of exclusivity.

By Tina Edward Gunawardhana

Photos by Samantha Perera