Kandy comes under Embark spell as 12th store opens in hill capital

Thursday, 28 March 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kandy has fallen to the charm of Embark, Sri Lanka’s unique cause-linked lifestyle brand, which opened an outlet in the hill country capital recently, providing residents and visitors an opportunity to indulge their passion for fashion and their love of animals.

Embark’s 12thstore in Sri Lanka was formally declared open by the brand’s iconic founder OtaraGunewardene at No. 116 Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, Katukelle, Kandy on Sunday, 24th March, offering a cross section of clothing, accessories, stationery, toys and pet products representative of the Embark phenomenon, widely credited with re-kindling societal kindness towards and tolerance of community animals.

Notably, the new store was the first in the chain to give customers a glimpse of Embark’s new ‘Avurudu’ clothing collection and branding, which are in the process of being rolled out in the run up to the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

Embark Kandy also unveiled a new collection of wristbands, slippers, t-shirts, canvas bags, notebooks, soft toys and dog toys supplementing its regular best-sellers – t-shirts, bottles and backpacks.

“Kandy has always been close to my heart and I am delighted to open a standalone Embark store in this city,” Embark CEO OtaraGunewardene said. “The Embark brand goes hand-in-hand with helping to change the life of the homeless street dogs of Sri Lanka. All the profits from the brand are contributed tothe cause. The brand caters to all fashion-conscious people who want to make a difference for another life through the way they shop.”

She disclosed that more than 90 per cent of Embark’sproduct portfolio is from local suppliers,demonstrating the extent to which the brand empowers communities. Some products like Embark’s popular fabric bags are made atthe Chitra Lane School for the Special Child.

The Embark chain comprises of standalone stores and stores within leading fashion and lifestyle retail outlets. The 11 other Embark stores in Sri Lanka are located at Dickman’s Road (Lester James PierisMawatha), Odel Alexandra Place, Marino Mall – Colombo 3, Liberty Plaza (Uptown Kandy), Nugegoda (Kandy showroom), Kadawatha (Kandy showroom), JaEla K Zone, Kurunegala, Galle Fort, Matara and at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Launched byOtaraGunewardene in 2007, Embark has been responsible for nearly 106,250interventions on behalf of homeless dogs over the past 12 years, has been instrumental in sensitising communities to the needs and rights of community animals, has campaigned for the protection of endangered species of wildlife and for the rights of animals in captivity, and has supported the efforts of the government to eradicate rabies through a series of country-wide programmes for the vaccination and sterilisation of stray dogs.

The Embark fashion brand is characterised by its three mascots Niko, Bandit and Rozzy – all street dogs adopted by Ms Gunewardene.