CFW Fashion Design Fund to support most impressive ‘BrightSpark’ designer

Tuesday, 10 March 2015 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) established the CFW Fashion Design Fund in 2014 to financially support the most impressive young designer who is a participant of the ‘BrightSpark’ Shows. Each year one up-and-coming designer with high potential is selected and given funding to kick-start his/her fashion career. CFW, hosted at the Hilton Colombo, provides a rare opportunity for aspiring designers to showcase their creative talent at the ‘BrightSpark’ Shows, which will take place on 11 March this year at the CFW Spring/Summer 2015 Show, within the Fashion Village. “CFW, which started ‘BrightSpark’ Shows to build up the next generation of Sri Lankan fashion designers also realised that some of them need support and resources to help them start their careers, and that gave birth to the CFW Fashion Design Fund which is used each year to support one promising designer,” says Ajai V. Singh. “I hope that we can grow the fund, and I would like to encourage corporates to come forward and help us support more designers. I am happy that we started this fund, which has proved to be a very satisfying initiative that has really helped the selected designers start their careers.”

CFW, the backbone of the Sri Lankan fashion industry, established the ‘BrightSpark’ program to nurture emerging fashion talent and bring recognition to the best young designers amongst CFW’s discerning patrons. Applications for the ‘BrightSpark’ program are open to all fashion design students. Applicants are evaluated by an expert panel of judges, who handpick the most promising candidates. In the months leading up to the show, ‘BrightSpark’ designers work closely with the CFW team, who provides them with integral feedback and mentor them throughout their creative process – from conceptualization to the production of a runway-ready collection. ‘BrightSpark’ designers are given the coveted opportunity to learn the inner workings of a Fashion Week as well as how to create a collection that will be showcased to an audience comprising leading designers, editors, buyers and influencers. At the end of this intensive mentoring process, the most impressive ‘BrightSpark’ designer is adjudged the winner of the prestigious CFW Fashion Design Fund, which is put towards his/her ramp collection. This year, the Design Fund was awarded to Kasun Gunawardena who works with eco-friendly, hand woven fabrics and involves local artisans and craftspeople to create standout designs that use minimum waste and energy. Kasun earned a diploma in Fashion Design at the LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore and went on to complete his BA in Fashion Design at the Academy of Design, Sri Lanka. “As a designer I am drawn to cultures of various ethnicities, space, ventilation and minimalism. I follow the Buddhist philosophy of detachment and simplicity which is usually reflected in my work,” says Kasun. “I wish to develop a lifestyle brand that inspires consumers to live a sustainable, minimal lifestyle and create wearable art.” Kasun is one of eight ‘BrightSpark’ designers who will debut their collections at CFW, at the ‘BrightSpark’ Shows on 11 March at 7 p.m., within the Fashion Village at the Hilton Colombo Poolside.