University of Moratuwa and Textured Jersey host Graduation Fashion Show 2016

Textured Jersey CEO and Managing Director Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne and UoM Vice Chancellor Professor Ananda Jayawardane presenting the Outstanding Designer Brand Award

The 10th graduation fashion show of the University of Moratuwa (UoM), Department of Textile and Clothing Technology went on the ramps at the Grand Ballroom, Galadari Hotel on 30 March. The fashion show held under the principle patronage of Textured Jersey Lanka PLC (TJ), the premiere fabric manufacturer of the region, for the third consecutive year was a glittering event orchestrated and presented by students, to showcase the innovative skills and talent of the department’s graduating class. 

The fashion show attended by industry specialists, academia and the fashion loving public, had over 600 people participating. 

A significant change this year was the strong synergy between industry and academia, which was highlighted in the collections presented by the students. Especially, the first segment of the show, were designs made up using fabric engineered by second year students supported by TJ. The company selected four textile solutions out of 20 collections presented, where four were selected for production by the company for their clients Calvin Klein (CK) and Intimissimi. The fist textile creations by students to go into commercial production, TJ ensured that these fabrics were produced on time to debut at the Graduation Fashion Show.

Textured Jersey CEO and Managing Director Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne addressing the gathering said, “Bringing academia and industry together is not easy, because our ideologies, pace of work and even philosophies are different; but when you can find common ground and work together, magic starts to happen. There is talent abounding in this room but when talent meets the realities of the world and industry, it is often beaten into shape and moulded according to those realities.  That’s why we need to guide these young people to become superstars of the future.”  

He added that academia also needed to come together to create platforms with national significance that will bring broader communities locally and internationally into the country, who would find greater opportunity to help them shine and grow, reiterating that he looked forward to a continuing relationship with the university through their MoU and other partnerships.

Of the 43 students who graduated from the Fashion Design Degree of the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology the best 23 showcased their collections on the catwalk. Each comprised of six outfits designed by a single student. A range of men’s and women’s wear for all seasons and occasions were displayed.  This year’s designs had been inspired by world-class brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Junya Watanabe, Dries Van Notenn and Moschino casual Wear.

The spectacular evening of glamour and fashion ended with the graduation ceremony. Seven young people received special recognition for their outstanding performances. The Serendib Inspirational award for the student who had best used craft based skills or industrial competencies went to Sudheshika Ekanayaka; the Most Commercially Creative Designer Award to Ranil Aththanayaka and the Best fit Tailored Menswear Designer Award to Sepalika Chathurangi. The Creative Knitwear Designer award was won by Pawani Edirisuriya and the Innovative Designer award was presented to Nayana Nilanga. Uditha Bandara Pranegedara won the the Innovative Textile Fabric Award while Nisansala Karunarathne bagged the Most Outstanding Designer Brand, concluding the awards presentation.

UoM Vice Chancellor Professor Ananda Jayawardane addressing the gathering said that the 2016 Graduation Fashion show was another successful outcome of the university’s efforts.  “We have been running the textile engineering course for about 26 years producing over 1,000 graduates; and the fashion design and product development course for over 10 years producing over 350 graduates. We are the only university to have a dedicated department to the textile and apparel industry producing strategic human capital, for our largest export industry. One of our strengths is our powerful industry collaboration. I’m extremely happy that large players in the industry have now invested quite a lot on R&D and the UoM is always open to provide our expertise to the industry.”

The university has signed an MOU with TJ to work in collaboration with the company to provide Textile Engineering and Design students the necessary support to experiment, access raw materials as well as use their factory premises for laboratory work.  The company also provides a variety of choice fabrics for design students. 

The synergy created between industry and academia through this kind of collaboration is not only expected to develop skills amongst local graduates who would become employable anywhere in the world but will also take the industry to the next level.

– Pix by Shehan Gunasekera