INDI YAPA ABEYWARDENE

For this week’s edition of SHE CAN, I collaborated with Colombo Fashion Week to feature a designer who has been an integral member of CFW for the last decade. She is an alumnus of Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara, Vishaka Vidyalaya, Colombo, the Academy of Design (AOD), Middlesex University, UK and Hertfordshire University, UK. She is the recipient of the Women in Management Gold Award, Women Entrepreneur of the Year (SME), the SLIM Restart Resilience Award for the SME Service Sector, the Stevie Award for SME Retail (Gold) for House of Indi, and the Stevie Award, Women Entrepreneur of the Year (SME). Her collections unveiled at Colombo Fashion Week over the years, have almost always received standing ovations and have sold out in hours. 

She Can and she is a creative, innovative, motivated power woman; Indi Yapa Abeywardene.

When did you first discover your passion for Fashion Designing? 
Quite by chance. Accidentally, to be honest. Once I completed my secondary education and my formal training in traditional dancing, I was keen to enrol at an international university overseas to pursue my tertiary education. Whilst, searching for the perfect option, quite by chance I stumbled upon a programme offered at the Academy of Design in Sri Lanka; a Diploma in Fashion. I enrolled for the Diploma and upon successfully completing it, I moved to the UK to read for my Bachelor’s degree.  

Was Fashion Designing your first career choice? 

No. Traditional Sri Lanka dancing was my first love. But hailing from a very conservative household with traditional Sri Lankan parents, I had to forego this option as a career choice. They didn’t think it was a suitable career path for me to follow.

What inspires you when designing a new collection? 

Things that I stumble upon every day. Life in general inspires me. I always seek inspiration in things that can make a difference in people’s lives. It could be a member of my team, one of my suppliers or artisans; I draw inspiration from everyone around me. Also, new challenges such as CFW pushing us designers to be more sustainable also inspires me with my work. 
 

You are amongst the best-known designers in Sri Lanka. How do you differentiate yourself? 

Not entirely sure if I’m amongst the best, but I would like to think of myself as one designer who has sustained a business over a reasonably long period of time, achieved annual growth and continues to create a difference in the local fashion industry. We are a brand that listens to our loyal customers. We maintain close personal relationships with almost all our customers. 
 

What has been your favourite collection so far and why? 

Colombo Fashion Week Resort 2021. We created a luxury resort wear collection and the feedback was amazing. We had never before received such positive feedback for an entire collection. Stepping out of a long lockdown, the hard work that went in to bring the collection to life was evident on the ramp that evening. Our collection married with the outstanding event hosted by CFW at Colombo Port City, allowed us to quite literally bring the house down that evening. The entire event was just perfect; the setup, the vibe and ambience, it was exactly what House of Indi stands for. 
 

What's your personal style mantra? 

Keep it simple and comfortable. Dress for yourself and not for anyone else.  

In your opinion what are the most important attributes of successful leaders today? 

A successful leader should be:
a.Adaptable to the needs of the people;
b.Acknowledge faults and rectify them;
c.Be Authentic and transparent;

Share with us a summary of your entrepreneurial journey; from classroom to boardroom. 

I started my schooling career at Sujatha Vidyalaya in Matara. I subsequently, moved to Visakha Vidyalaya in Colombo. After successfully completing my Advanced Level Examinations, I enrolled at the Academy of Design (AOD) in Colombo to study for my Diploma. Thereafter, I gained entry in to Middlesex University, UK.  After completing a stint at Middlesex University, I enrolled at Hertfordshire University, UK.  After completing my tertiary education, I interned at Henry Bertrand, UK, prior to moving back to Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, I joined MAS as a Senior Designer and worked with brands such as Victoria Secret and Calvin Klein. I eventually stepped out of MAS to launch my own brands INDI and BRIDES OF INDI. I recently launched Indi & Co and WearHouse (WH) so that I could bring all my different labels and brands and also provide a space for other designers to showcase their collections under one roof.

Share with us a summary of your personal journey. 

I was always supported by my family and extended family. My extended family rallied around me after my mother passed away at a young age. My father has always been my pillar of strength. My brothers are my core support system. I am who I am today because of them. 

Do you ever think – “Am I crazy?"

Haha! I don’t think so, but my husband and brothers think I’m a tad bit crazy at times. You cannot be a successful designer unless you think outside the box with a hint of craziness. I do have a vivid imagination that plays a huge part in bringing my collections to life. 
 

Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?

My mentor is definitely my father. is my father. I consult my husband prior to making any important decisions. My younger brother, Kavi also plays a vital role in my professional life. In my personal life I have an amazing circle of close friends who keep me sane, grounded and aligned.
 

Your biggest regret? 

Not pursuing a political career. I hail from a political family hence this would have been an interesting journey for me to embark on. I would have been able to do much more the country and our people had I chosen that path. 
 

Tell us a bit about your association with Colombo Fashion Week?

INDI is a product of CFW development. The brand has overtime come up the ranks like any other brand that started small, assisted by the CFW team. Multiple doors have been opened for us by CFW. We have been given access to a network, given sincere advice and a platform to showcase our collections to a local and an international audience. 

How would you describe your ten-year journey with CFW?

Not easy. There have been quite a few ups and downs! There were times when we thought our collection was the best for that evening, but we were disappointed when the team at CFW thought so otherwise. There were times when we have been disappointed having to play second fiddle to International Designers. When International Designers were prioritized over us local designers, and so on. But overtime, you mature as a person and as a designer, and you eventually learn that it is a gradual build up. You don’t overnight become a show-opener or a show-closer. The CFW team walks you through your journey. They prepare you for the big stage, that grand finale. They don’t immediately shove you to the deep-end. I have immense respect for CFW and the work they do not just for Emerging Designers but also for established designers like us. At House of Indi, we don’t look back, we look forward! We look forward to the next ten years as we adapt to the new normal and we will forward to growing with CFW. 
 

How important is it to incorporate sustainability into your collections?

If you asked me this question four or five years ago, I would have said my brand cannot be sustainable, but when you let it in, start looking at modes, understand the impact in the world, you start embracing it. Today, our design studio is on a circular fashion chart to minimize waste, to use organic materials, better working conditions, reuse our old stock or unsold items to provide a better service to our clients. We are not 100% sustainable but we are trying and employing fair trade and ethical work mode into it too.
 

What advice would you give emerging designers when it comes to designing a sustainable collection?

Sustainable is many things, it has many components like a huge puzzle. Find what pieces you can play with, what fits your brand, whilst staying true to your brand ethics. 
 

What are your thoughts on this season’s theme?

It’s very applicable with the new norm, we need to appreciate mother nature and get connected with Earth. Not only for us but for future generations too. It’s a great way to correct the fashion industry, and make it more responsible for the damage it does, and of course start correcting it. 
 

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Winning the Stevie Award (GOLD) - Women Entrepreneur of the Year, and becoming the second person in Sri Lanka to win an individual gold medal.
 

What do you want to achieve next?

I would ideally like to travel and showcase my collections to a global audience. 
 

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?

Be less emotional. 

Share with us a secret no-one else knows.

I don’t like cats. I am not a cat person. 
 

How do you want to be remembered one day? 
As a person who changed people’s lives. As someone who added a bit of love to the lives of many.