HSBC Colombo Fashion Week 2020

• Colombo Fashion Week is set to take place from the 18th to 21st March

The must looked forward to event in South Asia’s fashion calendar, Colombo Fashion Week is set to take place from the 18th to 21st March.

Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) in its 17th year taking a global lead in introducing a programme that evaluates each garment presented on the ramp on its sustainability, making it the first fashion week in the world to introduce such a system. This is the current need of the global fashion industry and fashion weeks around the world as the negative impact of fashion garments continue to burden the environment.

The “Responsibility in Fashion” programme by HSBC Colombo Fashion Week introduces three responsibility and circularity-based initiatives, which are actionable impacts and with this HSBC Colombo Fashion Week opens the door for the stakeholders of the Sri Lankan fashion design industry to embrace and start on a journey towards circularity. It also presents a platform for anyone in the region to utilise this programme to further their responsible and sustainable goals. This is the first-of-its-kind in the world with solutions that are relevant, cutting-edge, and easy to adopt. This was a result of months of research and behind-the-scenes efforts.

Colombo Fashion Week Founder and Managing Director Ajai Vir Singh said that the circularity created by the programme would enhance the journey of garments while preventing them from filling up landfills too soon. 

He observed, “The fashion industry now features among the top five most polluting industries in the world. It was always in our hearts to create a responsible and actionable programme that could be very relevant not only to Sri Lanka, but also for key fashion countries in the world to adopt. We’ve been working on it for the last few years and I am happy that we’re the first in the world to implement such a programme.”

Singh also explained that all fashion designers participating in the week have been supporting the CFW team on its responsible fashion journey to developing the programme in Sri Lanka and therefore, it was the first fashion week in the world to initiate responsible fashion correctly.

Speaking on the commitment undertaken by Colombo Fashion Week to develop the next generation of Sri Lankan fashion designers, Singh said that “Colombo Fashion Week had received the highest number of applicants for the ‘Emerging Designer Programme’ this year. Thus, this year, the ‘Emerging Designer Showcase’ is to feature 13 high potential young designers making it the biggest fashion show for emerging designers to date. These young designers would also incorporate the Responsible Meter and the three actionable impacts into their collections under the guidance of CFW”

This edition of CFW would showcase collections of nearly 30 designers over a period of four days. Some of the international designers featured include Kanika Goyal and Siddartha Tytler, while the Sri Lankan participating designers include Charini Suriyage, Dimuthu Sahabandu, Indeevari Yapa Abeywardena, Sharmila Ruberu, Asanka De Mel, Dinushi Pamunuwa, Fouzul Hameed, Amilani Perera, Aslam Hussein, Kamil Hewavitharana and Jai by Aashki amongst others. This season of HSBC Colombo Fashion Week is to take place from 18 to 21 March. HSBC had contributed to the fashion week as the Title Partner; Hilton Colombo as the Official Host Hotel, TRESemmé as the Official Hair Care Partner and Shangri-La Hotel Colombo as the Official Hospitality Partner. Vogue Jewellers was introduced as the Official Jewellery Partner and, Vision Care as the Official Eyewear Partner.

The “Responsibility in Fashion” programme by HSBC Colombo Fashion Week introduces three responsibility and circularity-based initiatives

“The fashion industry now features among the top five most polluting industries in the world. It was always in our hearts to create a responsible and actionable programme that could be very relevant not only to Sri Lanka, but also for key fashion countries in the world to adopt. We’ve been working on it for the last few years and I am happy that we’re the first in the world to implement such a programme” 

 Ajai Vir Singh

Colombo Fashion Week Founder and Managing Director