HSBC Colombo Fashion Week which has focused on creating livelihood opportunities for local fashion labels and designershas collaborated this year with 5 retailers creating a designer retailer program. This is in addition to the international multi-brand fashion retailers. This fashion design retail programme,will provide Sri Lankan designers the much needed exposure and opportunity to expand their retail presence and business growth in Sri Lanka. This initiative will go a long way in creating a sustainable local fashion design industry.
This year Trunk, Cantaloupe Boutique, Aakshii, Melache and Cotton Collection have collaborated with CFW with regards to the local retailer programme. These five established retailers will provide Sri Lankan designers the necessary infrastructure as well as the customer base to market and sell their designs. This would mean post Colombo Fashion Week, fashion fans would be able to immediately head to one of these retailers to purchase items from the collection shown.
TRUNK has two outlets where the service is offered; one is located in the lobby of Cinnamon Grand Hotel and the other in the charming shopping promenade at the historic Galle Face Hotel. TRUNK is also available at ODEL on Alexandra Place, Colombo 7. With more than 15 designers, TRUNK features a wide variety of clothing, shoes and accessories. The boutiques brands mix funky and hip trends with a classic and timeless style that entices the shopper reveals their inner femininity and helps them pair clothes and accessories to form a unique style they can call their own.
Since opening its doors, Cantaloupe Boutique (CB), has attracted and built up an eclectic following. It has made a definite mark on Colombo’s personalized, high-end retail circuit and amongst the affluent consumer network.
Linen & Life, Yolanda Aluvihare, Arugambay, String Hopper, Conscience, Red Cocoon, Buddhi Batiks are some of the local designers that work in partnership with Cantaloupe Boutique.
Tucked away in a leafy corner of Cinnamon Gardens, is the exclusive boutique Aashkii. It houses the refined designs of some of the world’s most dazzling fashion designers, including global icons such as Satya Paul, and inimitable Sri Lankan labels such as 79 and their very own Aashkii Label. The boutique insists on the highest standards of quality and refuse to compromise our quality.
Melaché is the first Sri Lankan fashion boutique that houses the best new Sri Lankan brands under one roof. This store was created as a platform for local designers to commercially retail their collections and to introduce the concept of wearing “Sri Lankan designer wear” to the community.
Melaché has the pride in dealing with the best exclusive designers in the country in order to understand their creative passions and their personal style. Most designers are the products of Colombo fashion week which has been a highly supportive event for this store and its concept.
In 2011 Dec Cotton Collection launched its flagship store at 143 DharmapalaMawatha Colombo 7. Cotton Collection brand embodies the spirit of casual fashion; therefore their clothing is mainly voile, cotton, organic cotton and linen based. We offer a complete range of clothing for ladies, gents and kids.
World renowned brands such as Levis, Hidesign, Crocodile, Nike and PICARD are currently in-store. Cotton Collection also houses, Sri Lankan brands with international reach such as Avirate, Arugambay, Carlo & Spa Ceylon. The storehas introduced one of Sri Lanka’s eminent fashion designers, KT by KT Brown for Cotton Collection.
Far from being just a glamorous fashion show, HSBC CFW‘s aim has from the beginning been to raise the standards of the local designers by insisting that international standards are adhered to. Having worked on this ethos for over 9 years, the consumers are now showing the change as we now see a trend where local designed clothing are very sort after. This trend has indicated an increase in homegrown labels, changing the pattern of what consumers want and look for. It is now considered “chic” to wear a Sri Lankan designed outfit.
President and Director of the CFW Ajai Vir Singh said “Our objective has always been to create opportunities for new and established Sri Lankan designers domestically and internationally. This year, CFW has taken focused steps to enhance these objectives by creating strategic alliances and ventures that would provide a cohesive platform for designers and the fashion industry in Sri Lanka from a holistic perspective.
Our focus by tying up with the retailers is to increase commercial activity. Singh added.
HSBC CFW will see the integration of a true fashion week with links established with local retailers, international buyers and collaborations with other fashion weeks. Being the only South Asian country that represents many international designers from the region, CFW has also now been positioned and seen as the hub for Spring/Summer resort wear.
Moving from strength to strength since its inception in 2003, HSBC CFW has built a reputable following locally and internationally. CFW 2012 scheduled for 24, 25 and 26 February, is set to take things to a whole new level.
