Swapping his knowledge of legal jargon law student Gayanth Karunaratne could not resist the calling to be a fashion designer and after one year of studying law made a bold move to study pattern making instead. Most of his fashion design knowledge is self taught which he believes empowers him to be bolder when it comes to designing clothes as he claims he was not taught the rules of fashion. Launching his brand GAI By Gayanth Karunarathne in 2017, his first ready to wear collection was launched at The Design Collective earlier this year.

What sparked your interest in fashion design?
Having been the not so stereotypical boy, I always loved creating something out of nothing and it definitely kindled my interest in designing .  I always loved playing with colours and different materials when it comes to creating art and a few of my teachers encouraged me to take the route of designing instead of following the same paths that most of my friends wanted to follow.

What made you take fashion more seriously and make a career out of it?
Being the youngest child of my family I was raised in an over-protective way. So my family wanted me to follow the footsteps of my sister and be a lawyer. I obliged, but after completing the first year of the degree I realized that Law was not something I would enjoy. 

So I decided to take a risk and give up my law degree for fashion (which a lot of people thought to be a stupid decision). That decision was not well received by my family which meant I had to adapt to a more independent life instead of being the momma’s boy that I was. However, having to create my own path in fashion design made me learn so many lessons. 

Are you self taught or did you study fashion design?
I consider myself a self-taught designer. I followed a course in pattern making because I appreciate that a designer has to learn the basic fundamentals when it comes to constructing a garment. But apart from that, I have spent all these years learning so many things by myself. Sometimes being a self-taught designer helps because you are not taught by the rules of fashion as what is right or wrong, which eventually makes you want to take risks and try new things without hesitation.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?
I think a part of being a designer is having the ability to see the unseen and appreciate the beauty and the worth that are being overlooked or over shadowed as much as appreciating what’s considered as typically beautiful. I draw inspiration from all sorts of things, but something that would always be dear to my heart is nature and beauty of women of different ethnicities. 

Describe your latest collection?
My latest collection  “La Hija de Picasso” which translates as “The Daughter of Picasso” is a celebration of femininity and individuality. I drew inspiration from line art by artist Pablo Picasso and bedtime stories by my father of his countless visits to Spain and South America.

What are your sustainability credentials?
Personally as a brand I believe that any move towards sustainability is a positive one regardless how big or small the efforts are. As a team, we are doing our best to reduce wastage while improving productivity. Also upcycling is something we often try to incorporate as much as we can when it comes to creating new collections and I always try to use techniques that are more eco-friendly while creating an income for those who in need with fare wages.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your company?
The biggest lesson I have learnt is to take risks and to follow my heart. Giving up a law degree and going against my family’s will could definitely have ended up as a disaster as I was told by so many people what I did was not so wise when it comes to my future. But looking back now taking a major risk has definitely paid off.

What role do you think social media plays in fashion today?
Of course, social media plays a very effective role when it comes to fashion from creating interactions with the consumer to building an online presence as well as influencing designers/artists in unique ways. Also, social media has become an important tool when it comes to pushing the fashion boundaries, accepting diversity and creating new norms with fashion and beauty. I feel that the role that social media plays right now feels important than ever as we are going through a pandemic since it plays a very visual role from brands going digital and creating virtual runway shows to keep the industry going. The best thing about social media is that it lets you add your personal touch upon promoting your brand.

How do you want women to feel when wearing your clothes?
I describe my designs as eclectic, whimsical and happy.  So I for me its all about making my consumer feel comfortable, confident and happy in my designs while standing out among the rest for all the right reasons.