Catching up with the face of HSBC CFW - Perine Fernando
Perine Fernando – Sri Lanka’s only Supermodel is now in Colombo once again to represent Sri Lankan Fashion at the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week. In her second year as the face of the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, Perine Fernando returns home with more anticipation and excitement.
Modelling for the worlds’ most sought after designer labels and design houses, Perine finds unique pride in supporting Sri Lankan fashion and talent. In this exclusive interview with Daily Mirror, Perine speaks candidly about her involvement with CFW and her thoughts on the industry as it booms.
What have you been working on in the last year?
In the past year it’s been business as usual for me as I work with international brands such as Etro and Cucinelli. I have also worked on this special photo shoot which I’m sharing with Sri Lanka, no one has seen these images as yet. It’s nice to be back in Sri Lanka, and spend time with my family as well. This year my son accompanied me on the trip and it's given us time to enjoy the trip together.
Your thoughts on representing Sri Lanka at CFW?
It’s a true honour and it’s the very first time I’ve got the opportunity to be the face of a local brand or event. It’s an honour to me, for one, it’s my country and secondly because it is such a prestigious and successful event that Ajai and his team have built up and managed to work wonders for the industry and the talent in the country.
As an international supermodel, I find that CFW is comparable to any other fashion week around the world, that I have worked in. I’ve walked the ramp for Fashion Weeks in London, New York, Milan, Japan and each of these shows are the backbone of the Fashion Industry in those respective Fashion Capitals; and certainly CFW is the backbone of Sri Lanka’s fashion industry.
The organisation and planning that goes into the event is meticulous and flawless. CFW has managed to single handedly uplift the design community in Sri Lanka! CFW has certainly taken the fashion industry in the right direction forward. And it’s a pride for all of us, when our designers have come such a long way and have achieved phenomenal heights.
Your thoughts on the Colombo Fashion scene and industry – the changes you have observed?
I definitely see a huge surge in people being more fashion savvy and the industry itself has grown so much. Local designers are far more motivated now and are really pushing their individual boundaries to compete on this amazing platform that CFW has provided. The show brings together local, international, emerging and established designers and that is an amazing mix for all designers to learn from each other and grow in a positive spirit.
For example, I love the designers who work with local crafts and revolutionize the traditional culture of this country. The designers have advanced and the young designers have also come such a long way. Designers such as Darshi Keerthisena and Sonali Dharmawardena have truly come a long way and the exposure they’ve got has also given them an international perspective to their work.
Over the last ten years going by my visits to Sri Lanka alone; I have observed how the market has gone from being flooded by factory rejects and surplus to having a wider choice of trendy boutiques and labels that one can choose from. So I definitely enjoy the retail experience a bit more than before. I love picking up unique creations from Sri Lanka that I know no one else back home will have.
Will you be walking the ramp for CFW?
Most probably yes but you’ll have to wait and see for more details on who I will be wearing etc..
The changes you see CFW has brought about to the industry, designers and end consumers?
Well CFW has afforded the local designers with a truly international platform to show their work not only to the local consumers but to international buyers, media personnel from around the world and international guests too.
It essentially gives recognition to the designers and their work. It’s also given local consumers a taste for international designs and has opened doors or given access for consumers to international labels.
Your work as Brand Ambassador to CFW – what are your contributions to the whole event?
This year in addition to being a spokesperson and Brand Ambassador, we hope to facilitate some mini training sessions with the models so I’m able to share some of my experiences with the local and international models. It will be an interactive and healthy training session for the models to grow.
The world has really opened up for models and there is intense competition from beautiful women from different parts of the world, so models constantly need to be a step ahead of the game. I find that the local models have come a long way with the exposure they have been given through CFW.
How you’ve been able to promote Sri Lankan fashion to the rest of the world?
Yes I am trying to promote Sri Lankan talent and crafts to many designers I come across and venture into other avenues that can help the local industry. But the fashion world internationally in so vast and competitive that it will most probably take some time to forge significant partnerships.
Having said that, Nish de Gruiter of Suitsupply was introduced to CFW by myself. I encouraged him to show in Sri Lanka and I’m so happy that he’s agreed!
This year’s concentration on the youth – what are your thoughts and how you foresee them making an impact at the show and beyond?
They are the next generation of designers and it’s important to concentrate on their future for the longevity of the design industry. It’s also remarkable that CFW is giving them the adequate exposure and advice so that our local talent does not migrate to other fashion capitals.
Young designers also freshen things up a little bit and bring out a new perspective and I’m sure featuring new designers this year will excite the audience both locally and internationally. Every other fashion capital around the world also supports and gives young and emerging designers the opportunity to show in the same platform as other established design houses.
Through the Gen Next Award, CFW gives young designers the chance to show in international fashion shows and also several other collaborations such as Miami Fashion Week and Russia Fashion Week also adds to the international exposure our local designers can take advantage of.
The HSBC Colombo Fashion Week 2013 will take place from 3rd to 5th April at the Hilton Colombo.
By Miro Dole
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0 Comments
Goni Billa says:
Apr 02, 2013 at 12:00 amYou say she an international super model, but many of us have never seen her at any international event. Nor is her name mentioned in international fashion magazines where we always see names such as Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen, Heide Klum, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova, Alessandra Ambrosio, Claudio Schiffer, Leticia Casta, Elle MacPherson, Linda Evangelista,Natalia Vodinova, Eva Hezigova, Caroline Murphy, Amber Valetta, just to name a few of the worlds well known Supermodels.
GhostLanka says:
Apr 02, 2013 at 12:00 amHa haa haa...good comment Billa....lankan media think we are gullible like frogs.
freshmilk says:
Apr 03, 2013 at 12:00 amWho is this woman.......never heard of or seen her before. Super Model....Heheheh!!!
Jason VanDort says:
Apr 03, 2013 at 12:00 amFAMOUS BRANDS... Etro and Cucinelli?? never herd of those brands and never heard of this so called super model!! I dont find her Hotttttt
Kate moss says:
Apr 03, 2013 at 12:00 amPlease show her cat walk
Walter says:
Apr 03, 2013 at 12:00 amPeople Google those two brands and see what it is. You are all frogs
Kiss says:
Apr 05, 2013 at 12:00 amShe is just a model not a Super model. DM needs to know the meaning of Super model. lol
vérité says:
Apr 05, 2013 at 12:00 amAgree with the comment by Kiss. She may have walked the ramp at fashion shows in the west, but that does not make her a super model. She does not have a very pleasant face, take a good look at her pictures.Literally hundreds of ethnic models are hired during the fashion season in Europe, any of them does not make it to the top to be called a super model. Only a couple make it to the top. Sorry DM you got it wrong.
Susy says:
Apr 11, 2013 at 12:00 amJust so all you frogs know
Perine is the only Sri Lanken model to do very well out side of Sri Lanka, she worked for all the top designers in the 90's and has continued modeling for over 25 years so DM calling her a super model of Sri Lanka is correct.
vérité says:
Apr 11, 2013 at 12:00 amSusy, You got to be kidding or you do not know the International Modeling or Fashion scene to call this individual a 'Super Model" . As Goni Billa mentioned above some of the names of Super models who have been famous since the 90's. None of us have heard or seen this so called supermodel in any International Magazines or write ups anywhere abroad. There are numerous ethnic models hired during fashion seasons in Milan, London, New York etc to walk the ramps
la connaissance says:
Apr 12, 2013 at 12:00 am# Susy: "A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again." A small amount of knowledge can mislead people into thinking that they are more expert than they really are.
Susy says:
Apr 13, 2013 at 12:00 amOoohhh.... Do i sence a shade of jelousy or have you not being reading Harpers Bazar, Vogue, Marie Clair etc... In the 90's? A few of the models " whoever" mentioned are super stars! There is a difference between "star" and "super" in fact Perine walked the famous catwalks with these star models. Besides, super model or not, its a fact that Perine has been a great role model and ambassador for Sri Lanka.
vérité says:
Apr 14, 2013 at 12:00 amSusy: Yes many of us in the industry do read all the fashion magazines that you mentioned
mike says:
May 25, 2013 at 12:00 amis she really from Sri Lanka? she is super hottttt!!!!! who cares if she is a super model!!!