Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday, 13 October 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Taiwan Fashion Design Award First Prize winner 2021 AOD Grad Ruwanthi Gajadeera, whose work perfectly reflects the concepts of sustainability and design creativity
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| Ruwanthi Pavithra Gajadeera
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Among nearly 450 designers from 18 countries and regions including Europe, America and Asia, Ruwanthi Pavithra Gajadeera from Sri Lanka became the winner of the first prize and won $ 10,000 at Taiwan Fashion Design Awards 2021 (TFDA).
Organised by the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (IDB) and co-organised by Taiwan Textile Federation in 1987, TFDA was promoted to be an international contest in 2013 and has attracted the attention and participation of personnel from many overseas fashion schools. The event was sponsored by Lealea Enterprise Co. Ltd., Li Peng Enterprise Co., Ltd., Coddy Global Ltd., and Fortune Industrial and Commercial Development Foundation, etc.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, there was also a live broadcast of the ceremony. The international jury connected with each other online in real-time and included Nao Takekoshi, Stephane Dou, Christina Dean, Valéria Bessolo Llopiz, Jane Singer, Tomonori Matsui and Charlotte Chiang.
In conjunction with Taipei Fashion Week series, all works of the finalists of 2021 TFDA will be displayed at Warehouse No. 3 of Songshan Cultural and Creative Park until 11 October.
Early in July, the Academy of Design (AOD) added another accolade to its portfolio, following the success of Ruwanthi Gajadeera at London Graduate Fashion Week 2021. She became the first runner-up for her sustainability-themed designs, competing against 15 strong international contenders.
With her collection ‘kǣli’, Ruwanthi incorporated her Sri Lankan heritage and the many sustainable mechanisms of ancient Sri Lankan culture, to support slow fashion and produce eco-friendly attire.
Having designed under four key principles (low-impact, low-waste, longevity, and recyclability), Ruwanthi’s oeuvre allowed her to follow through with her vision of exploring sustainable fashion avenues, with the intent to eternalise these garments to be passed down from generation to generation.
“The sustainable catwalk collection of Ruwanthi Gajadeera shown at the 30th anniversary of Graduate Fashion Week in London, flew the national Sri Lankan flag for the quality artisan skills practiced on the island, and achieved a well-deserved position of first runner up in the International Award category,” said Graduate Fashion Foundation London Chairperson Douglas MacLennan.
