HSBC CFW expands the scope of Sri Lankan designers through resort show

Tuesday, 17 September 2013 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, which is in its 10th year, seen as the back bone of Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry, has consistently unearthed, groomed, showcased and promoted Sri Lankan fashion design talent. In its journey to put Sri Lankan fashion on global stage and have it recognised, HSBC Colombo Fashion Week with this show stretches the skill set and talents of Sri Lankan fashion designers by creating another season Resortwear, which is globally being recognised and showcased. This category has found traction in the last two years and it is suited to the design environment of Sri Lankan fashion designers.

“Resort is an extension of Spring Summer, but a growing category around the world. A lot of people confuse it with swimwear, its not. Simple way to look at it is, what do you pack when you go on a beach holiday. We want our designers to master Resort as it is conducive to their thinking, FallWinter is little alien, but business wise Resort this will help them set up,” says Colombo Fashion Week President Ajai Singh. The last five years has seen a growth in prominence of Sri Lankan fashion designers and labels. This has translated into a growth of fashion retail, featuring Sri Lankan fashion labels. The first edition of CFW Resortshow was at Jetwing Lagoon Negombo, which was a single day show showcasing five Sri Lankan designers and three international designers. This year in the second edition, there is an impressive line-up of 16 Sri Lankan designers showing Resort and two international designers. “In just one year, from 5, now there are 16 SL designers showing Resort, by god’s grace, it only shows we are doing something right by pursuing this strategy of expanding Resort, so that Sri Lankan designers can expand their business and scope. We are serious about creating a hub for resort fashion in Sri Lanka, as we are well placed geographically to do that,” says Ajai Singh highlighting the growing business impact of this edition. As lifestyle there are more tourists headed for Resort holidays to Asia, South Asia and South East Asia. This is the scope and scale of the business of Resort fashion in world. And HSBC Colombo Fashion Week has been working to create a platform and hub in Sri Lanka for the benefit of the local fashion design industry and also to showcase Sri Lanka on a global stage. The partners of HSBC CFW, are also partnering in creating and enhancing the potential of Sri Lankan fashion design industry, HSBC in its role as title partner is joined by Colombo Jewellery Stores as official jewellery designer, Jetwing Lighthouse as host hotel, Odel as fashion retail advisor, Land Rover, official automobile, National Crafts Council to raise the profile of Sri Lankan crafts, Rayban VisionCare as the official eyewear partner, Spa Ceylon, Hameedias, Dialog TV as official satellite TV, Ramani Fernando Salons, Leo Burnett Arc, Hellmann official Logistics partner, Tag Heuer, Wijeya Publications as Print Media partner, British Council as the official knowledge partner.