Wanting to be a fashion designer since the age of 13, Kavishna Kuruwitage’s childhood was filled with sketches of dresses in various forms. In order to follow her dream she joined the Academy of Design (AOD)  where she polished her skills with the help of the experienced lecturers and the multitude of resources available.

Having graduated in 2019 with a BA (Hons) in Fashion and Textile Design Kavishna, who loves exploring and working with heritage crafts and creating textiles, was thrilled when one of her designs was selected to be worn by Sonali Silva for the June issue of the Hi!! magazine.

What inspired the pieces you created?
Inspired by men’s workwear clothing, this tailored coat and pant was one of the pieces I created for my final collection. My final collection Skeletal Dimensions portrays the exploration of the human body through the use of handcrafted batik and dip dyeing on dead-stock plaid and textured fabrics.

Who is your muse?
I chose Logan Laurice as my muse mainly because both her lifestyle and aesthetic resonated with the strong independent working women, my collection was trying to portray.

What are your design ethics?
Designing ethically is a vital part when I created the textiles for my collection. Being able to understand how the process of creating my garment from the initial fabric to the dyeing process and finally the manufacturing process helped me understand the importance of being sustainable and transparent when creating a garment.

What are your sustainability credentials?
Being sustainable has always been a massive part of what I choose to create. Creating my final collection pieces with the use of dead-stock fabric and understanding the correct and ethical use of dyes and chemicals that provide a sustainable outcome.

How has your feminine identity been portrayed through your collections?
Choosing men’s workwear as my main form of garment inspiration was mainly to challenge the norms associated with femininity. These are norms that I have personally experienced in my life about how and what a woman should wear. Breaking these boundaries through my collection helped me create my identity and make a statement.