SriLankan Airlines flies the pride of rural artisans

The national carrier that has bridged the nation with the world for over three decades is soon to launch an in-flight collection that will carry the message of Sri Lankan craft heritage internationally. These collections will include masterfully crafted products from across Sri Lanka.

 This will include designer hand-woven wraps and shawls woven in the traditional weaving village of Dilvulapitiya, Batik wraps from central hill country, jewellery by artisans in the Southern Lace community and unique souvenirs involving traditional crafts like lacquer-work and mask-making. Another interesting addition to the collection will be the products from the North and East of the country made in to exquisite travel retail products. These collections are to be manufactured entirely by rural craft communities with the modern design input of the Academy of Design.

SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena shared his enthusiasm for aligning SriLankan with the country’s creative and traditional legacy: “As the national carrier and a brand that demands a Sri Lankan presence in an international context, SriLankan Airlines aspired to offer something unique and meaningfully Sri Lankan to its passengers from across the world. We’re glad to have the opportunity to support our own artisans and contemporary local creativity while achieving this ambition. We’re sharing a bit of Sri Lanka with our international traveler.”

Sri Lanka Design Festival Founder Linda Speldewinde mentioned thanked SriLankan for involving rural artisans in the national airline: “This project is possible as a result of the island craft project carried out by the Academy of Design’s ‘Design for Sustainable Development’ project which works across the island. It’s refreshing to see Sri Lankan airlines engage everyone in the development process form the person in the village to the business traveler very much encapsulating the fact that Sri Lankan airlines is Sri Lanka.”

The project will provide livelihoods to several hundred artisans in Sri Lanka and will extend SriLankan’s services beyond its passengers. This special collection will be launched at the upcoming SL design festival’s ‘Island Craft exhibition.’ The collection will commence in 2012 and is to mark a milestone in SriLankan Airline’s contribution to national development.

 Sri Lanka Design Festival is a national event that brings many major industries together within a creative context.

It’s a special showcase for the potential held by the creative sectors of all these industries to support country’s economic development.

The festival highlights these aspects through many international forums, fashion shows and exhibitions, and will take place at the Mount Lavinia Hotel in November.

 SLDF is also partnered by Mount Lavinia Hotel – Festival Host, SriLankan Airlines – Official Airline, Textured Jersey – Fabric Partner, Coats – Thread Partner, TradeCard – Software Partner, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics – Freight and logistics partner, Norwegian Embassy – Cultural Partner, British Council – Knowledge Partner. Other associates include Sparklink Travels, Bates Strategic Alliance PR, Social M!dea, ADDIKT Design Movement, Images Group, CG Hairdressing, MTV/MBC and Fashion TV.