First ever Mercedes-Benz Fashion & Apparel Awards Sri Lanka

The first ever Mercedes-Benz Fashion & Apparel Awards in Sri Lanka concluded on a high note and produced 10 proud winners from apparel manufacturing and technology as well as fashion retail and individual talent. This prestigious event that marked the pinnacle of Sri Lankan fashion recognised and celebrated the most influential personalities, organisations, partnerships and initiatives that have shaped Sri Lankan fashion and apparel into the most powerful export industry of the nation.

 The awards recognised the best of apparel industry innovation, emerging talent and sustainable initiatives in fashion; the 10 awards were judged by three international judges and the winners will now receive the opportunity to join the international Mercedes-Benz fashion weeks in Moscow and Kiev. 

Shortlisted out of more than 75 applicants, the award finalists represented several reputed retail brands, major fashion and apparel manufacturers as well as emerging design talent from academic institutes such as AOD and University of Moratuwa. These talented individuals put together some outstanding work for the final awards night and impressed the large audience of international buyers, retailers and opinion leaders present at the event. 

The winning designers, companies and collaborations recognised are as follows; Individual Designer Awards were won by Amesh Wijesekera (Student/Graduate – Industry Collaboration), Shay International (Own Brand), Prabath Samarasooriya (Sustainable Fashion Design – Craft) and Janaka Ullandupitiya (Emerging Designer). Industry design awards were won by Alvina Pasangha of NorLanka Manufacturing (Industry Young Blood), Star Garments (Game Changer through Innovation), NorLanka MFG Colombo (Design and Detail Excellence in Casualwear), EKKO (Own Brand), Orient Design (Specialists Products and Accessories) and MAS Intimates (Design and Detail Excellence in Constructed Apparel). 

The Runners up for these prestigious awards were also highly commendable and are as follows; Subhani Piyaratne for Student/Graduate-Industry Collaboration), Clubhouse Vivaldi for Own Brand-Individual, Kanchana Fernando for Sustainable Fashion Design-Craft, Nadhia Iqbal for Emerging Designer, Melanie Gray & Maria Kumaraperuma of Brandix Apparel Solutions as Joint Runners Up for Industry Young Blood, Dynawash Limited for Design & Detail Excellence in Casualwear, MAS Active Trading & Orient Design as Joint Runners Up for Design & Detail Excellence in Constructed Apparel, Waves for Specialists Products and Accessories, Avirate for Own Brand-Industry and Orient Design for Gamechanger through Innovation.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion & Apparel Awards Sri Lanka successfully raised the profile of the local fashion industry throughout the world by solidifying its position as hotspot for innovation, ethical practices and most importantly, design. The 10 award winners will receive the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the international Mercedes-Benz fashion weeks of Moscow and Kiev in 2016. This initiative aims to provide opportunities for local talent to experience global fashion industries and gain new experience to enrich the industry back home.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion & Apparel Awards was powered by DIMO and official print media, Wijeya newspapers’ Daily FT, Daily Mirror and Sunday Times, and was held as part of Sri Lanka Design Festival. For more information contact Sri Lanka Design Festival Secretariat at 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 4 or call 0115867772. 

Pix by 

Krishan Ranasinghe