Recycling is a process frequently used to save natural resources, but the concept of up-cycling, even though it is well spoken of in most countries it is not a process in Sri Lanka that has received the recognition it deserves, especially up-cycling the discards left over from the manufacture of apparels in Sri Lanka, which would otherwise be destroyed.

Lonali Rodrigo, who is a designer as well as an entrepreneur, has ventured into promoting this process referred to as up-cycling, and during a brief interview Lonali was able to share her move in promoting this concept.

The concept of up-cycling is different from recycling, since in the recycling process recyclable material is reprocessed into materials that can be used to manufacture new products. But in the process of up-cycling, discarded material or residue that is left over subsequent to manufacturing a product is used to redesign and create a new product. For example, a dress rejected due to its quality which was manufactured at an apparel factory would be up-cycled to create a shirt, or the material of the dress would be used to make accessories such as hand bags, sandals, etc.

Lonali says that this concept interested her when she was an undergraduate in fashion design at the Academy of Design, where she wanted to do something with labels that was stitched onto garments. When she visited a factory that manufactured these labels she was quite amazed to see so many labels that were discarded and she wanted to use same for something since such discards were to be burnt by the management of the factory. And she thought what better way to use this other than by up-cycling the labels into garments.

This was a big step in Lonali’s career as a fashion designer as it was a concept not well known in Sri Lanka, and having showcased this concept at the Sri Lanka Design Festival, and winning the “Ethical Fashion Award” in 2010 for her ready to wear collection was quite an achievement, especially as an undergrad.

In 2012, having completed her degree Lonali participated in the Venture Engine Competition which is a competition created by Blue Ocean Ventures (Private) Limited and The Indian Angel Network to encourage Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to start up their businesses and it was indeed a break Lonali was looking for as it provided her the groundwork to start her own label “House of Lonali” to promote her designs and especially, up-cycling.

House of Lonali has made a good name for itself in the fashion industry as the designs were showcased at the Sri Lanka Design Festival in 2013 which won the “The Emerging Designer Award” and “Sustainable Designer Award” and even received recognition at the Bride and Groom show in 2013 for designing bridal wear using residue of print material provided by the printing company, Anim8.

We asked her as to who inspired her to venture into this industry and she says that it was her aunt Chamini Hemachandra who initially encouraged her to venture into designing and also during her studies at the Academy of Design, Linda Speldewinde and Karen Macleod helped her to evolve and grow in the manner in which she looked at designing. Lonali adds that her parents and her maternal grandmother have made a great impact in helping her to pursue her goals in life for which she is truly grateful.

Lonali says that during her short tenure in the fashion industry, the concept of up-cycling has not been recognised much by local customers compared to her foreign clientele, mainly because up-cycling would be considered as using waste products to create new clothes but technically it is not waste, but products that were manufactured, but not utilised by the end buyer of the manufactured product. However, Lonali says that up-cycled handbags, sandals, notebooks, etc. have become quite a hit with her local as well her foreign clientele.

Currently designs by the label House of Lonali are retailed at the Island Craft Boutique located at the Park Street Mews. When talking about future goals, Lonali says that she intends to introduce up-cycling to kids and men’s wear as well as home-ware in the near future she also says that she will be launching her online store in April which can be found on www.lonali.com.

Unlike other fashion designers in Sri Lanka, House of Lonali introduces a different concept called up-cycling which is a new to the industry that requires time to receive the recognition it deserves and also to generate a local market, which is definitely an uphill task that Lonali says she is determined to achieve and move further in promoting up-cycling in Sri Lanka.

You can see further on up-cycling and designs by House of Lonali by visiting the facebook page on www.facebook.com/HouseofLonali.

By Radhi De Silva