University of Moratuwa Graduation Fashion Show 2015 on 30 March

Thursday, 26 March 2015 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Graduation Fashion Show presented by the final year undergraduates of the Fashion Design & Product Development Degree Course conducted by the Department of Textile & Clothing Technology of the University of Moratuwa will be held on 30 March from 7 p.m. onwards at the Galadari Hotel. This course was established to satisfy a long-felt need in the apparel export industry. The Joint Apparel Associations Forum (JAAF) which is the apex organisation of the apparel exporters has worked with the University and supported the course from its inception. The initial funding to commence the course was provided by the Government of Sri Lanka through the Ministry of Industrial Development and Commerce. This is a perfect example of a partnership between the university, industry and the Government. The first fashion degree in Sri Lanka was commenced in 2001 to nurture the next generation of fashion designers to support the upward mobility of the apparel export industry of Sri Lanka. With close collaboration with the industry and the Government departments, the Bachelor of Design Degree in Fashion Design & Product Development was established with a consultancy provided by the London College of Fashion of the University of the Arts, London. The course is now fully established and is one of the degree courses with a high demand in the university system of Sri Lanka. This show is the culmination of four years’ work of students graduating this year and is the launch of the brand new collections developed from concept to final product by these students. This year, the best 19 collections will be showcased on the catwalk. The course encourages students to take up one of the two pathways, fashion or textiles. The collections comprise of womenswear and menswear aimed at a designer market and a specific season. The work is handcrafted or technology driven to realise the designs developed from a strategic proposal. The graduates have great potential to become entrepreneurs and to commence their own businesses or to serve the apparel export industry and communicate novel ideas to create cutting edge fashion. These fashion collections produced by the students in Sri Lanka and modeled on the catwalk by professional models at a gala fashion show are considered to be on par with any overseas university graduation show. This show is considered the best in town because of the structured learning input in the course and the facilities that are offered by the University of Moratuwa. The principal sponsor for the second consecutive year is Textured Jersey Lanka plc that engages is manufacturing of circular knit fabrics in Sri Lanka. Textured Jersey, the leader in knit fabric manufacturing in Sri Lanka, is proud to support the Graduation Fashion Show of the University of Moratuwa. The affiliation between Textured Jersey and UOM has been since its inception and has immensely benefited both parties by becoming one of the largest employers of its graduates. It is the largest knit fabric manufacturer in Sri Lanka and produces quality fabrics to make up intimates, active wear and leisure wear and market its products to the USA and the EU. Textured Jersey Lanka Plc has entered in to a more intimate partnership with the University of Moratuwa, to support the Department of Textile & Clothing Technology. The partnership is to strengthen the link between the two institutions so that they would engage in mutually-beneficial activities. These include supporting the annual Graduation Fashion Show, placements of students and staff in the industry, engaging in joint research, designing fashion portfolios and many more. They said: “We feel honored and proud to be a part of this prestigious event and we wish the Department of Textiles of the University of Moratuwa all the success and pledge our assistance in bringing out the young talents to excel in the industry.” They will encourage entrepreneurial abilities of the undergraduates and support commercial innovations relevant to the industry. As usual, this year too, the invitees include Cabinet Ministers, including Ministers of Higher Education, Industry and Commerce, Secretaries to the Ministries, Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Foreign missions, Members of the University System, including the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission, Vice Chancellors of Universities, and the most essential industry associates including manufacturers, exporters and buyers. Fashion Design & Product Development graduates contribute immensely to the local manufacturers of apparel and help the industry move from a ‘Cut & Sew’ supplier to a ‘Total Solution Provider’. In the past years invitees have included Stephen Jones, a well known milliner (Hat Designer), Jane Shepherdson, formerly Brand Director of Topshop currently CEO of Whistles, David Abraham of Abraham and Thakore, one of India’s most successful and respected brands for fashion, accessories as well as home textile products, and Manish Arora, an Indian fashion designer based in New Delhi who was appointed as creative director of the womenswear collection of the French fashion house Paco Rabanne in 2011. The awards given at the show are the Outstanding Designer Brand award, Commercially Creative Designer, Serendib Inspirational Designer, Innovative Designer, Menswear Designer, Creative Knitwear and Innovative Textile Fabric to encourage students to explore in to new product categories of designer fashion. The Panel of Judges comprises eminent personalities in the fashion world and this year features Otara Gunawardane, Piyumi Perera, Rebecca Ward, Peter Katz and Gail Temple.