We are just days away from one of the most high profile events in Sri Lanka’s fashion calendar, the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka. Held in collaboration with the AOD and DIMO, this year’s event will see 65 designers showcase a variety of collections ranging from athleisure and knitwear to childrenswear and casualwear. MBFL Sri Lanka is also considered a springboard for many young designers to launch their new collection and this year we are especially keen to identify Sri Lanka’s new design talent. Spread over three days, here’s an exclusive preview of some of the designers from Day 1 of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka.

Anuththara Rajapakse:

1.What does it mean to take part in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka? 

Showcasing on an international platform such as this is a great opportunity to show the capabilities and design talent within our fashion industry. The experience and exposure for designers and industry alike is amazing. 

2.Can you describe the collection you will be showcasing?

This collection is inspired by the 80’s sportswear, comics and Harajuku fashion. It embodies a spirit of whimsical childish playfulness. The silhouettes are feminine yet fun, accentuated through the mix of bright & quirky embellishment.

3.What is the inspiration behind this collection?

As much the collection is mainly inspired by the Harajuku fashion and 80’s sportswear, it is also inspired by what I am working on at the moment which is kids wear and ladieswear.

4.What do you hope to get out of this experience?

As a fresh graduate from AOD and a designer for Hirdaramani Knit Cluster, this experience has helped me grow and learn as an individual designer. 

5.What is the unique selling point of your collection?

As a women’s and kids wear designer I wanted to experiment with the theory that kids wear can influence trends in women’s wear as well, where it can be tweaked into wearable designs for those above the age of 15 years. This collection is loud, playful & bright aimed at bringing the inner child in you. 

Thushie Jayasekera

What does it mean to take part in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka?

Mercedes Benz is a global brand, a brand that everybody aspires to be associated with. I am grateful for Mercedes Bens Fashion Week Sri Lanka for creating a platform for local designers to voice their opinion, to create, connect and collaborate with international thought leaders and partners.

Can you describe the collection you will be showcasing?

Inspired by the iridescent shades of the sea and the tropical colors of coral reefs and fish, Sub-aquatic Glitch by TINK is a collection of ready to wear garments, consisting of Fringed Mini dresses, embellished pieces and cover-ups capturing the movement and texture of the magical world down under.

What is the inspiration behind this collection?

It was a snorkeling trip to Trincomalee, that ignited my interest in the deep sea and the magic it contains. The colors were surreal and defined what paradise would look like! Swimming amongst the black tip reef sharks and a countless variety of vividly colored tropical fish emerging from the extensive range of textured corals, still remains my most distinct and precious memory. 

1.What do you hope to get out of this experience?

Exposure to the industry and a network of peers and like-minded people who believe in fashion for a cause and an opportunity to get people on to conscious fashion.

2.What is the unique selling point of your collection?

The unique selling point of this collection would be the vibrant colors, the fringing and embellishment techniques that have been used 

Leshani Peiris

1.What does it mean to take part in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka?

It’s a great honor and a privilege to be showcasing my first collection at MBFWSL since it’s a great exposure and is a great way to put your own brand out there to a local and international viewing audience.

2.Can you describe the collection you will be showcasing?

My collection is a menswear collection which is heavily based on form and fit since its inspiration stems from tailoring techniques as did I want to challenge the traditional men’s sartorial figure. I tried to stress on the gender ambiguity, that I personally think should be present in all clothing.

3.What is the inspiration behind this collection?

For the silhouette inspiration I looked into suits of armour of the medieval era, I mixed this with Men’s tailoring techniques from the late 40s to the 50s, which is considered the golden age of menswear. This inspired me to use a bold colour palate, and use pattern mixing techniques in my fabrics for which I used pinstripes and hound’s-tooth checks.

4.What do you hope to get out of this experience?

I hope to prove to myself as well as others of my creative capabilities, and learn from my mistakes and grow as a designer as well as be inspired for the future by all the talent and great personalities that I would hopefully encounter at this event. 

5.What is the unique selling point of your collection?

Usually men’s garments are centered on functionality with bulky surface details, whereas women’s garments are not. As I mentioned before I see no need for this disparity and I think we can borrow techniques and silhouettes from both genders so long as they fit the cut and form of a male/female body. My unique selling point would be that even though its menswear, if it fits you right, it can be worn by anyone irrelevant of their gender. 

Imasha De Silva

1.What does it mean to take part in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka?

It's definitely exciting to be a part of the MBFWSL and it is a great honour that provides us and the Academy of Design with brilliant exposure. MBFW improves our standards and the local fashion industry alongside one another and I am definitely excited and nervous to be a part of it!

2.Can you describe the collection you will be showcasing?

For my final year collection I wanted to showcase designs that were feminine, fun and wearable. Chloe is and remains one of my biggest inspirations so I wanted to channel their aesthetic. I used bright prints taken from my hand drawings inspired by .....and used details like ruffles, snakeskin and embroidery for an extra dimension. Overall I wanted my collection to be really pretty, romantic and wearable and for women to enjoy wearing my clothes.

3.What is the inspiration behind this collection?

This Spring/Summer 2019 collection was inspired by the silhouettes of cowgirls and Prairie girls. Prairie girls influenced the feminine feel to the collection, while insect prints were inspired by vintage insect botanical drawings and antique Valentine’s Day cards inspired the print of the roses. The colours of the silhouettes were inspired by vintage posters with ruffles and snake-skin used as a nod to the cowgirl.  

4.What do you hope to get out of this experience?

The MBFWSL is an International fashion show, and being a part of it for a young fashion designer is good exposure for an early start in our career, whilst getting the chance to showcase our first collection. I hope it improves our skills and presentation whilst associating with internationally accredited fashion designers. I hope to keep expanding my career in fashion and see MBFW as the first step.

5.What is the unique selling point of your collection?

The unique selling point of this collection is that it is one-of-a-kind yet wearable. My prints came from all hand drawn elements that I manipulated in Photoshop which gives it a truly personal and unique feel. With my collection, I really see the 'girl' who wears this and I think that is every girl, it is feminine but has cool detailing like snakeskin, it is an edgy romantic collection.