Hameedia features Nigel Barker in exclusive book signing event at The Envoy Mansion

Continuously setting the benchmark in the fashion industry, Hameedia Sri Lanka’s leading menswear specialist recently hosted an exclusive book signing event featuring international fashion photographer – Nigel Barker. The gathering took place at the Envoy Mansion in Colombo where Barker signed copies of his latest publication ‘Models of Influence’, a New York Times best seller that beautifully features 50 of the world’s most influential models and outlines their place in the pantheons of fashion and pop culture. As a gesture of appreciation Hameedia Managing Director Fouzul Hameed also presented Nigel Barker with a tailor-made shirt from the Envoy brand’s Mix and Match collection.

Nigel Barker is highly regarded for his 17 seasons as a photographer and judge on the popular TV show ‘America’s Next Top Model’, which is hosted by Tyra Banks and airs in over 140 countries for an audience of over 100 million viewers. Barker is also the host of the Oxygen Network’s new modelling competition series, ‘The Face’, which he stars in alongside fashion powerhouse Naomi Campbell. Born in London, Nigel’s father is of Irish and Portuguese descent while his mother Gillian Barker is of Sri Lankan ancestry and was also a former Miss Sri Lanka contestant. 

Nigel Barker and his family were being hosted on a seven day tour of Sri Lanka by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and the book signing event was the final part of their tour. Before leaving Sri Lanka, the event provided Nigel Barker with an opportunity to showcase his work and interact with enthusiastic members of the local fashion, photography and modelling fraternities. The Envoy Mansion played host to Nigel in style, and the beautifully designed retail space provided a warm ambiance and exclusive setting for the event.  

Commenting on the event, Nigel Barker stated, “Travelling across Sri Lanka has been a wonderful experience and

I am delighted to conclude my tour of the country by visiting the Envoy Mansion. I would like to commend Fouzul Hameed on the work that he is doing to revolutionise the menswear fashion industry in Sri Lanka. From what I gather, Hameedia and Envoy are both respected brands that provide an array of high quality clothing options that enable men to step out in style and make a strong fashion statement.” 

Commenting on the book signing event, Hameed stated, “Nigel Barker is an international celebrity and fashion authority, who is recognised around the world. Nigel truly is a man of fashion and we are honoured that we were able to host him at the Envoy Mansion. The Envoy brand offers our most premium range of clothing and it was created specifically for men like Nigel who are mature, stylish and successful. We are delighted for the Hameedia and Envoy brands to be associated with such a prominent and highly reputed personality, who has made a lasting contribution to the world of fashion and photography.” 

All proceeds from Nigel Barker’s book sales at the event were donated to the ‘My Friend’ project, an initiative conducted by the Hameedia Group and Sri Lankan Cricket Team Captain Angelo Mathews. The ‘My Friend’ project strives to support the educational needs of underprivileged children in Sri Lanka by providing them with financial aid and school supplies, which help support their overall learning and development. 

Hameedia was established in 1949 and has grown to become a household brand in Sri Lanka. Renowned for high quality custom tailoring and ready-made clothes for gents, the Hameedia multi-brand retail stores house a collection of quality menswear brands including Le Bond, Envoy, Signature, Raymond, Lee and adidas to name a few. Hameedia also prides itself on offering exceptional standards of service to ensure that clients enjoy a positive and personalised experience at each store. 

With a network of over 30 outlets across Sri Lanka and a team of over 1,000 employees, Hameedia has a strong local presence and has also expanded globally with outlets in the Maldives and Australia.