HSBC CFW to showcase resortwear show

The first HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) Resortwear Show will debut on the 22nd of September 2012 at the picturesque Jetwing Lagoon that provides the ideal setting for the event.

HSBC Colombo Fashion Week aims to take Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry to new frontiers by focusing on a high growth resortwear that encompasses beachwear, swimwear, holidaywear and cruisewear. This will provide more commercial opportunities for Sri Lankan designers and retailers.

The first resortwear show is on a relatively smaller scale with a total of 10 designers showcasing their creations. The designers are a mix of experienced people and young blood with a natural inclination towards resortwear. This will also lead the way for younger designers for its next edition.

The show will be telecast on Fashion TV alongside many other important international resortwear fashion shows.

The Sri Lankan designers at the HSBC CFW resortwear show will be Darshi Keerthisena, Yolande, Sonali Dharmawardhane, Gihan Ediriweera of Avirate, Upeksha and Arugam Bay.

This show will give local designers the opportunity to stretch their creativity and come up with collections in line with the global season.

President of Colombo Fashion Week Ajai Vir Singh said “It was on our mind to create a second show more focused on a niche which we can build on and connect it to the global season circuit. Hence resortwear which is also a part of our lifestyle can be our strength. We have chosen to hold it in September when the international fashion fraternity shows SS/Resortwear. By God’s grace, this will take Sri Lanka’s fashion industry to another level.”

The international designer line up is focused on South East Asia, which includes seasoned international designers, first timer to Sri Lanka Jendela KL from Malaysia, as well as regulars to the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Rizwan Beyg from Pakistan, Bibi Russell from Bangladesh and Sanchita from India.

Nick Nicolaou, CEO for HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives stated, “The HSBC Colombo Fashion Week has grown in stature making it an event of international repute and a coveted show locally. As such we are excited to witness the new offspring of the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week and have no doubt that the show will be spectacular.  

“We believe the launch of a resortwear line is most apt for a destination like Sri Lanka that boasts some of the best beaches and holiday getaways in the world. We hope this will create yet another platform to provide new opportunities for our local designers and cater to a new season of fashion for our customers, who will no doubt look forward to this annual event and its merchandise.”

Perine Fernando, the face and spokesperson for HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, who was present at the press conference will continue in her role for HSBC Colombo fashion Week 2013.

Jetwing Lagoon Director Operations Jerome Auvity said, “Being the venue for the first ever HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Resortwear Show is indeed a great honour for Jetwing Lagoon; as well as the perfect complement to the property’s unique style and design. We are pleased to be associated with HSBC Colombo Fashion Week which will not only showcase Sri Lanka`s talented designers but indeed help the industry reach new heights. We look forward to a show like no other, and the continued success of what is truly an event of international renown.”

The key partners for the show are HSBC, Colombo Jewellery Stores, FedEx, Range Rover, Rainco, Avirate, Ramani Fernando Salons, British Council, SHIFT and Diageo.

Pix by Kithsiri De Mel