12 November 2021 08:38 am Views - 161
This edition of Olu Swim Week focuses on Luxury Resortwear with emphasis on the festive season and destination weddings. The current ‘New Normal’ presents an interesting scenario for fashion designers, where aspects of sustainability play an important role alongside providing the design solution a fashion consumer expects.
The Ballroom at Shangri La and the Port City are the two chosen venues to provide a stunning backdrop as a crop of leading fashion designers take to the runway to showcase their collections.
Following the theme of circularity in fashion this season too the designers have been challenged with a brief that places emphasis on creating a collection which focuses on sustainability and repurposing garments to ensure minimum waste.
Speaking on the challenges posed by the new normal in staging an event of this magnitude Ajai said
“It’s our 18th year and while every year there are challenges to maintain quality and standards, this year’s show has brought about new challenges as the supply system to create fashion weeks have weakened due to business pressures. And people are mentally in lockdown mode which needs to open up. This also includes designers creative mindsets. Sponsors under business pressures. Hence it’s a challenge of a world trying to come out of lockdown with its own interpretations. Yes the environment brings its own challenges. It’s not been easy.”
This year the show includes an element of bridal wear. Explaining the rationale behind the inclusion Ajai says "2021 has been a year of ‘New Normal’, interesting challenges and opportunities. Fashion as an industry while in need of change has also been struggling. Lockdowns took its toll. Hence we decided to create a specially curated CFW edition, Luxury Resortwear (as tourism will open), destination weddings (weddings were postponed) and the upcoming season where people will be eager to go out. This focus of CFW was to create opportunities for designers, create a sense of optimism and positivity for the society in a thoroughly responsible manner following all Covid Protocols. Hence keeping the above in mind a bit of bridal was part of the plan"
Introducing the theme of circularity in fashion a year or so ago Ajai has been steering the participating designers to adhere to the principles of circularity.
On meeting the challenge of adhering to the principles of circularity Charini adds “I have been a person who has been interested in sustainability, therefore the brand has inherited the same eco consciousness. The challenge has been the consumers readiness to embrace and in some instances except circularity as an important point to consider when purchasing.”
A newcomer to Olu Swim Week is Galle based designer duo Tivon and Seema, the founders of Karma Collection. "Although we are an established brand of 4 years, this is our debut at CFW. Our collection promises to be full of colour, vibrant and eye catching. “We have taken our inspiration from two incredibly strong female icons, Frida Khalo and Iris Afrel and created a collection that any woman or man wearing would feel powerful, strong and confident.”
The livewire behind men's fashion in Sri Lanka and a designer who also focuses on humanitarian work designer Fouzul Hameed values the business potential of showing at Olu Swim Week. He says “Shows such as this will improve and motivate designers to upgrade. While Sri Lanka is a manufacturing hub it adds value to the garment industry. The garment industry used to be one of the top 5 industries that brought in revenue to the country. A show of this nature can bring awareness to the garment industry. Being a tropical country and placed in a prime location geographically. We can be the fashion hub of resort wear for the world .”
Aslam Hussein another front runner in Sri Lankan fashion circle is long considered a designer who favours structured tailoring. He is famed for his bridals therefore it would be interesting to see what he presents in terms of bridals for destination weddings. Aslam says
“I want to wow the audience with my collection. I love structured design which I have incorporated in a more relaxed manner while not compromising my signature style. To minimise waste I have repurposed clothes from previous collections to give it a fresh look in a completely different silhouette. This has been one of the most challenging collections I have created”
Designer Divya Jayawickrame who wowed the audience when she first presented her maiden collection at the emerging designer showcase a while back brings to the show a collection inspired by Sri lankan beaches.
“Everyone has been stuck at home for months. We need to go out and relax but there is still a “stay at home” warning. Sri Lanka is surrounded by sea. “My secret beach” suggests finding beautiful beaches and considering travelling alone.. Using my signature block printing method I have developed my collection to bring it into a luxurious fashion collection.”
“This year CFW resort makeup and hair trends are on par with some of the looks we have seen internationally.
While bare-faced skin is very much on trend this season we hope to deliver some exciting trends like bold eyes, pops of colour and neutral lips to name few.
As for hair we will be going with effortless chic looks that have a lot of flow and movement as well looks where hair will be held together in a sleek manner.”
"Our collection is inspired by many things. multi wear- convertible garments with the ability to wear them and style them differently to give them more than one look.
I have heard many times that some people today don’t want to wear or to be photographed in the same outfit. We want to give them options to restyle the outfits and also with a message it’s cooler to help the planet by investing in well made clothes that lasts.
Some pieces are reversible and multi-way with multi-way styling. Less is More! During the pandemic I began watching Korean dramas and listening to K-pop . Some of the silhouettes are inspired by their historical outfits combining with comfortable resort silhouettes."