Friday Nov 22, 2024
Friday Nov 22, 2024
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From left: Ramani Fernando Salons Founder Ramani Fernando, Juniper Group Founder Chairman Yatila Wijemanne, Kerry Logistics Director Tania Polonnovita, CFW Founder and Managing Director Ajai Vir Singh, Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager Sandun Hapugoda, Shangri-La Colombo General Manager Herve Duboscq, Unilever Sri Lanka Beauty and Wellbeing Marketing Manager Mihira Kulatunga and Hameedia Group Managing Director Fauzul Hameed at the CFW 2023 press briefing in Colombo – Pix by Ruwan Walpola
By Safna Malik
The Colombo Fashion Week (CFW), which started its journey in 2003, completes an important milestone as it celebrates 20 years of pioneering sustainable fashion with young innovative designers.
The three-day fashion show from 29 March to 2 April at Shangri-La Colombo is expected to bring regional and international fashion designers together to show off their latest summer collection designs to inspire young fashion designers and the textile industry in Sri Lanka.
The CFW 2023 summer collections by regional and international top talents will be showcased under the theme of inclusivity in growth marking the 20th edition of being a platform that promotes sustainable ecosystem.
CFW officials remarked that they are planning to hold the responsible summit as a morning session with their newly partnered company Kerry Logistics Incorporation with JAAF Joint Apparel Association Forum on the first day of the fashion week.
They also mentioned that the second two days are expected to be a surprise for spectators to witness this extravagant fashion show in different spaces of the Shangri-La hotel. The hotel being located in the heart of Colombo CFW officials believe it’s the best way to showcase Colombo as a main fashion destination.
CFW 2023 is set to take fashion to new heights with the aim of empowering the fashion design industry.
A peek into what’s in store for the CFW 20th edition, CFW Holdings Managing Director Ajai Vir Singh said that the Italian Embassy in Sri Lanka will be recognising high potential emerging designers with a special award this year. The Italy award marks the second year of the partnership with CFW and it’s expected to be taking place under the leadership of Italian Ambassador Rita Manella.
“In the last 20 years, CFW has brought pride in Sri Lankan fashion, this aspect was missing when we started, today designers are household names and their creations fill wardrobes. A sustainable eco system has been created which gives hope and aspires to the younger generation to pursue design as a career. Design entrepreneurship is what we are focused on with a goal to reverse brain drain. I am so grateful to all our partners in buying into our vision and staying with us through thick and thin. Creative industries must flourish as they create soft power for Sri Lanka,” Ajai said.
The event is expected to draw international designers, models and fashion tourists from different parts of the world to witness a cultural diversity in a runway consisting of regional and South Asian fashion designers, he added.
This year’s Colombo Fashion Week edition will stage designers from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, along with 30 Sri Lankan designers, namely Charini Suriyage, Dimuthu Sahabandu, Sonali Dharmawardena, Amilani Perera, Fouzul Hameed, Indi Yapa Abeywardena, and Asanka De Mel.
He mentioned that this interaction with international designers would encourage knowledge sharing with the fashion design industry in Sri Lanka.
Recalling how it began, Ajai said that the Colombo Fashion Week has actively developed and followed a sustainable fashion paradigm ever since 2012. It was first initiated with the Ethical Fashion Day, the Responsible Fashion Summit, the Sustainable Tool, and the Responsible Meter which was introduced in 2020.
He highlighted that the CFW takes the pride of recognising regional talents and to be first in the fashion industry to create pathways for emerging Sri Lankan designers, and encouraging young designers to pursue fashion as a career. 80% of innovative young designers in Sri Lanka are the product of CFW design development platform, he added.
Speaking about the vision of CFW, Ajai said that the 11 years of efforts to make this platform one of the most sustainable platforms in the world was a positive progress. Over the years high profile designers from Europe, Australia and Asia have showcased their designs through this platform.
He also made a special announcement at the official launch of CFW 2023 that previously they are referred to and known as HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, and this year they decided to revamp their branding as Colombo Fashion Week 2023 presented by Mastercard.
Explaining the loyal partnership between HSBC Premier and Mastercard, Ajai said two of the partners play an important role for the CFW and HSBC Emerging Fund has been instrumental in supporting five new design talents to sustain themselves along with the Italy Award, which created opportunities for new designers.
“CFW also celebrates the start of an important new collaboration with the globally reputed brand Mastercard which will take a lead role in presenting CFW 2023 in a remarkable way. This year will bring forward an environment that demands innovations and creativity to move to the next level, as Sri Lankan economy looks towards revival after a year of turmoil,” he added.
Mastercard Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Sandun Hapugoda said they are in a mission to add 1 billion customers to the global digital economy by year 2025. Nurturing SMEs, MSMEs, supporting inclusive creative entrepreneurship and contributing towards preserving the environment with sustainability initiatives, are the key elements of Mastercard’s approach.
He also shared that while they work together with this new partnership to introduce sustainable and inclusive fashion initiatives, Mastercard along with CFW and other Mastercard partners are planning to create a platform for emerging fashion entrepreneurs in South Asia to reach the world digitally and accept payments seamlessly.
This year Kerry Logistics has partnered as official logistics partner for Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) 2023 and a part of the 7th Responsible Fashion Summit with the theme – ‘Journey Towards Zero Waste.’
Kerry Logistics Sri Lanka Group Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny said that they share a similar vision which is one of the reasons to collaborate with CFW. As a logistics company, they are committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions through their operations and value chain by 2050. “We take pride in collaborating with CFW to work towards sustainable logistics solutions to the apparel supply chains,” she added.
Juniper Group has also formed a partnership with CFW to support this groundbreaking initiative to identify young talents and fortify the fashion industry in Sri Lanka. Juniper Group was known to have an impressive real estate and financial investment portfolio. Juniper Group Chairman Yatila A. Wijemanne said this year’s theme of CFW 2023 summer collections “Inclusivity in Growth” have prompted them to collaborate with CFW.
Speaking about the roots of the Juniper Group, he said earlier they were known as Ceylon Brand House Ltd. (CBH Lands). It was a real estate investment, development and sales company based in Kurunegala. With their extensive network they gradually grew and revamped their brand name as Juniper Sri Lanka.
They also hope to work along with CFW whilst benchmarking their individual approaches to be all-inclusive in their outlook, making real estate an accessible option to people from all walks of life and to identify areas for improvement and development in the fashion industry as well.
Shangri-La Colombo General Manager Herve Duboscq also joined to express his gratitude to be hosting CFW 2023 at Shangri-La Colombo, as a foremost hospitality brand in the world in Sri Lanka. They are honoured to be partnering with CFW this year as well.
Main partners for the CFW 2023 – Tresemme, Ramani Fernando, Hameedia, Beauty by Rosh, Perfetti, Prevense by British Cosmetics, Joint Apparel Association Forum, Daraz, Dialog Gene, Wijeya Newspapers, Hardtalk Ltd. and Emerging Media.
Pic by Ruwan Walpola
