South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum at SLDF presents Gateway to Growth: Shaping of a Knowledge and Innovation Hub

• Synergising South Asia’s potential as a global apparel powerhouse, this year’s forum explores strategies to elevate Sri Lanka’s pivotal role at the epicentre of this transformation. It focuses on fostering collaboration to maximise the region’s collective strength and reinforcing the country’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing and design innovation
• A gathering of global thought leaders; local and international apparel industry leaders, trendsetters, buyers, and sourcing specialists will convene at the South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, held at Cinnamon Life City of Dreams, Colombo, on Saturday, 9 November 2024 as part of Sri Lanka Design Festival. Tickets are now available

Building Sri Lanka as a South Asian hub of makers and innovators

The South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, an integral part of Sri Lanka Design Festival’s (SLDF) knowledge-sharing program, is set to focus on the theme Knowledge & Innovation Hub – Gateway to South Asia. This year’s discussions will delve into the region’s potential to position itself as a global leader in apparel, emphasising innovation-driven solutions. Against the backdrop of a post-pandemic landscape, experts will discuss ways to strengthen South Asia’s textile value chain and future-proof it through regional synergy, design thinking and cutting-edge technology facilitating sustainability as much as speed.

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, which has long demonstrated resilience, will serve as a model for adaptive practices, showcasing how it integrates sustainability, regional collaboration, and advanced technologies. By harnessing the collective strength of South Asia, the forum’s vision is clear: to not only fuel the region’s growth but to turn Sri Lanka into a key knowledge and innovation hub, offering strategic pathways for global partnerships.

A deep dive into the forces reshaping the global apparel landscape, led by some of the industry’s most respected voices

MAS Holdings Chief Growth Officer Malik Ahamadeen will chair the forum, ensuring a dynamic and progressive discussion that borrows from his decades of experience in facilitating new opportunities in the business of fashion.

Industry futurists and regular headliners at the Forum, Martin Raymond and Chris Sanderson, Co-founders of The Future Laboratory, will present A World in Flux, exploring how STEEP factors (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Political) are altering consumer mindsets and the apparel industry. Their analysis will offer insights into how companies can stay ahead of the curve amid global shifts. The Future Laboratory, one of the world’s leading futures consultancies, combines trend forecasting, consumer insight, foresight, brand strategy, and innovation to inspire and future-proof organisations.

China Market Research Group Managing Director and a regular thought leader at the forum Ben Cavender will tackle the post-pandemic transformation in China’s apparel industry. In Reshaping the Apparel Landscape Post-Pandemic – the China Perspective, Cavender will highlight how Chinese brands have enhanced their capabilities through innovation and localised creativity, showcasing lessons for the rest of the world.

Brandix Lanka Ltd. Managing Director Hasitha Premaratne will recount ‘Sri Lanka Apparel – Story of Resilience and Grit’, showcasing how, despite a series of unprecedented challenges, the industry continues to rise above and punch above its weight. Inspiring the audience to understand how seeming impossibilities become possibilities when approached with courage and a spirit to innovate, Premaratne will explore how the nation’s apparel sector, long celebrated for its sustainability and ethics, has navigated local and global challenges to set new industry standards time and time again.

The forum also presents an engaging interactive panel discussion on embedding innovation and design thinking into the core of apparel businesses, featuring design thinking practitioners and educators like Motherland Joint Ventures Co-founder and ‘Make in India’ campaign architect V. Sunil, Chemistry, UK User Experience Designer Aimee Kyffin, OCAD University Canada Social Innovation Design Associate Professor and TrickleUp Design Founder Sarah Tranum, and Artist, Designer and Educator from the Netherlands Noud Sleumer. 

Drawing on their diverse backgrounds and extensive experiences, the panellists will provide practical insights into cultivating a design-led culture that can transform organisational structures and enhance competitiveness. Participants can expect to explore strategies for integrating innovative practices, and leveraging design thinking to create sustainable solutions that address current challenges in the apparel industry. 

This session promises to be a dynamic exchange of ideas aimed at equipping businesses with the tools to thrive in an ever-evolving market landscape.

The program will conclude with a panel discussion looking to the future, embracing the region’s potential as a global apparel powerhouse. Focusing on unlocking regional synergies, Omega Line Managing Director Felix Fernando, and Brandix Apparel Ltd. Executive Director Rajiv Malalasekara, joined by Malik Ahamadeen will explore the alignment of Sri Lanka’s ethical production capabilities with India’s retail market strengths, highlighting the opportunities for growth and innovation within South Asia’s apparel ecosystem. Through these discussions, the forum will underscore Sri Lanka’s potential as a knowledge and innovation hub, setting the stage for South Asia to emerge as a global leader in the apparel and fashion industries.

A must-attend for all apparel industry stakeholders and a vital resource for company teams looking for growth and to refresh innovation strategies

In the rapidly evolving global fashion market, SLDF’s South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum stands as a critical learning platform, offering fresh insights and forward-thinking strategies essential for navigating today’s shifting landscape. 

It’s not just a chance to understand current trends but a vital resource for teams looking to gain a competitive edge. With speakers dissecting everything from post-pandemic industry shifts to the latest in design thinking, the forum equips employees with the knowledge they need to adapt and innovate. 

This year’s forum focus, Knowledge & Innovation Hub – Gateway to South Asia, delves into how Sri Lanka and its regional partners are carving a new path for the apparel industry. By fostering innovation, design thinking, and cross-border collaboration, the event highlights the immense potential of South Asia as a thriving hub for sustainable fashion and future-focused growth. It’s an invaluable investment in the people who shape your apparel or textile company’s future.

Tickets are now available; for more information and to purchase, visit www.srilankadesignfestival.lk or contact [email protected].