DIMO in partnership with AOD supports Sri Lanka apparel with international platform Mercedes-Benz Fa

Mercedes -Benz Fashion Runways will be hosted by Sri Lanka Design Festival as part of its agenda from 4 to 6 November at SLECC. 

DIMO in partnership with AOD brings the event to Sri Lanka to support and elevate the county’s apparel industry which is ready to set off in to the future powered by design and innovation that it has been building over the decade or more. 

Sri Lanka’s apparel industries are associating with Sri Lanka Design Festival is in its eighth consecutive year. But, this year the journey will be one of ‘transformation’ and tuning into the future. 

The Sri Lanka apparel industry has always been ahead of the game and yet again set to embark on a new journey led by innovation, embracing the digital, etc. From a Sri Lanka Design Festival and AOD point of view, it is so important for us to leverage for industry the work that has been done over the last eight years and get the attention of the fashion world for both the country’s young designers and the industry; namely, the attention of an international audience comprised of buyers, retailers and decision makers in global fashion who have the power to make big business with Sri Lanka. 

It is in this context that the Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) steps forward with AOD to support the apparel industry by launching a specially curated mega platform that has the ability to demand the attention of the fashion world - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways Sri Lanka.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways Sri Lanka will be held as part of Sri Lanka Design Festival this November.  Poweredby DIMO, the official custodians for Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka, these major runways will be held in Colombo, with the already confirmed participation of an impressive delegation from the global fashion community. 

General Manager of Sales Rajeev Pandithage stated that his company has always been about supporting Sri Lanka and moving it to the future; which is what forms the groundwork for this partnership. 

“The Sri Lankan fashion industry is something that influences the lives of many Sri Lankans and I’m aware of the transformation that is taking shape in it. The apparel industry has reached a critical point and it needs a mega-scale international platform to get the world’s attention to make this transformation into a success business-wise. So, we were responding to that need and we’re proud to provide the platform for it and support an industry that connects with millions of Sri Lankans. It is not the glamorous outlook of the event that resonates most with Mercedes-Benz; it is the impact that we make for Sri Lanka; this is something very close to our hearts at DIMO.”

Mercedes-Benz is a household name across the globe and is known as an icon of style with products that personify its vision of leadership in innovation and design. As part of its international brand philosophy, Mercedes-Benz supports fashion innovation all over the world. This is what DIMO is bringing over to Sri Lanka with Sri Lanka Design Festival’s input. With Mercedes-Benz’s massive, international fashion grid, local fashion becomes part of a global network that brings about recognition and opportunities that were inaccessible before. 

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways Sri Lanka is structured around three main pillars that make up the local fashion sphere; a new Sri Lankan style that is emerging with sustainable and low-tech craft integration, apparel industry’s innovation led transformation and finally, the young emerging design talent. 

The first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways at SLDF encompasses a new Sri Lankan style which establishes a new aesthetic unique to the island; this will incorporate cutting edge fashion with innovation from low-tech traditional craft. It stands against the popular notion that fashion and style is limited to Colombo, by facilitating collaborations between contemporary designers with artisans from Northern Sri Lanka to the depths of the South. 

The second day of the runways is dedicated to the transformation that the local fashion industry is undergoing and encapsulates an attractive new fashion proposition from Sri Lanka; this runway will be attended by a global audience of fashion authorities in buying, design, retail and media, allowing this new proposition from Sri Lanka Apparel to reach the right networks. 

The final runway of the series will be an energetic insight to the future, providing a platform to young design graduates who will go on to join the creative taskforce of Sri Lanka’s fashion industry.

Speaking on the partnership and what it delivers for the local apparel industry, SLDF and AOD Founder & Managing director Linda Speldewinde stated: “There is such a great value in having an international name that already has a global fashion voice. So, it’s been great to partner with DIMO in getting down the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways to Sri Lanka at a time when the apparel industry needs a global platform. We see this as a continuing partnership for the future. We thank the DIMO team, their Chairman Ranjith Pandithage and General Manager of Sales Rajeev Pandithage for buying into our vision, believing in the unique strength of local fashion and helping us to move this industry into the future, for Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lanka Design Festival together with DIMO will unveil Mercedes-Benz Fashion Runways throughout 4, 5 and 6 November at SLECC Colombo with key partners DIMO with Mercedes Benz Fashion Runways, Coats Thread – official thread and zip partner, GT Nexus – official technology partner, HNB- Official Banking Partner, Mount Lavinia Hotel – Official Host, Wijeya Newspapers Group – Print Media Partner, Free Lanka – Official Beverage Partner, Secquoro – Business Transformation Partner and We Are Designers, Official Hair & Make-up Partner – Salon Kess as well as some key apparel industry participants including MAS, Hidramani, Timex, Star Garments, LICC, MRC, Nor Lanka, Orit, Innovative Knits, EKKO, Union Apparel, Penguin, Lanka Leather, Raaksha,  Textured Jersey, Avirate and Vogue Tex. The event is endorsed by the Joint Apparel Association Forum.