Fashion brands, local graduates, and new-gen designers to inspire the world with Sri Lanka’s new #designforexport solutions, creative talent and entrepreneurship spirit, at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week SL 2021

• Dates: 10, 11, 12 December at Colombo Innovation Tower
• Live streaming on: www.mbfwsrilanka.com

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, or MBFWSL, becomes the first to take on AOD’s ‘The New Local’ vision this December, as the global fashion event returns to the island powered by Dimo. MBFWSL 2021 aims to take Sri Lanka’s new design propositions to the view of the international fashion industry. The event kicked off last evening at the Colombo Innovation Tower.

For several years, MBFWSL has remained an annual global event that takes Sri Lankan fashion beyond borders. Known for establishing bridges between local fashion talent and global platforms, MBFWSL has been a powerful starting point for many young designers including names like Amesh Wijesekara currently gaining international popularity. MBFWSL will be shifting its focus to this kind of young talent this year, embracing their promise, hope and drive to boldly pursue big opportunities in a new post-pandemic world.

“Entrepreneurship has always been a big part of MBFWSL but, this year it becomes a major focus embracing the amazing talent that Sri Lanka has to offer. We’re very excited to present ‘The New Local’ vision through this global event, and use this powerful platform to demonstrate Sri Lanka’s new approach to its exports,” said AOD Chairperson, Linda Speldewinde, who introduced the 2021 edition of the event to the public last evening.

She further mentioned how MBFWSL ties into a larger vision which identifies the significance of rethinking Sri Lanka’s export strategy to add more creative value to major exports and adapting to new markets with very new needs. “We’re thinking about what new wearable markets need, how the fashion industry is responding and the new commitments we all have to make the world more sustainable. MBFWSL is where the world will see how young Sri Lankan fashion entrepreneurs and designers are ticking all the boxes, and have access to a sustainable, state-of-the-art apparel industry. We’re ready to refresh Sri Lanka’s biggest export in the global fashion eye with this event and its commercial impact,” she added.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka kicked off last evening to a packed audience at the Colombo Innovation Tower and will continue today (11) and tomorrow (12). The very first show, The New Local paid tribute to the event theme with a series of collections that relook at traditional craft with new eyes, this show was a curation that demonstrates how Sri Lankan fashion exports can be taken to new consumer niches beyond borders. The two shows Emerging Designers and New Gen showcase the young talent that embodies a new Sri Lankan aesthetic and fashion philosophy that is sustainable and globally relevant; these two runways will feature young fashion and textile graduates from AOD, fashion entrepreneurs driving their own brands and local textile graduates. These three shows will be live-streamed on www.mbfwsrilanka.com.

The MBFWSL fashion exhibition, highlighting projects with outstanding creative and sustainable thinking in young Sri Lankan designers, will be open to the public under Covid-19 guidelines, at the Colombo Innovation Tower between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka is presented by AOD, powered by Dimo, with the support of Wijeya Newspapers Limited, Kess, Kevin Murphy and Gelish by British Cosmetics.

Join Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2021 as it presents creatives and entrepreneurs who use design, creativity and innovation to celebrate home and create opportunities beyond borders. With the 2021 theme ‘The New Local’, MBFWSL is celebrating those reshaping the creative spaces with the right entrepreneurial attitudes and commitment to sustainability.

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“We’re thinking about what new wearable markets need, how the fashion industry is responding and the new commitments we all have to make the world more sustainable.” Linda Speldewinde, AOD Chairperson

“It's my dream to participate at MBFW and this platform is a great place to represent the next generation of fashion,” Randika Karunarathne

“I'm really looking forward to seeing my collection come to life on the runway at MBFW!” Onali Silva

“MBFW is a great platform to represent the future of fashion. As an upcoming designer, it inspired me to explore more hidden crafts and textiles. Mainly it pushed me to reach out the full protentional of my design thinking. DESIGN NEVER STOPS,” Minali Wanigasinghe

"Excited and extremely grateful for getting the opportunity to showcase my final major collection at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Show. I believe it's a great first step as new graduates for the big path that's ahead of us. I'm hoping to bring to life the rich Beeralu craftsmanship in Sri Lanka as intimate wear," Dinithi Gamage

“MBFW is a great stepping stone for us young designers and I am very grateful for been able to showcase my vision that I've been working for the past year and I'm excited to see my collection on the runway,” Amenda Careem

“MBFW is a great platform for our country to take local talent internationally. I am excited and I feel privileged to be a part of this global event,” Uddami

“MBFW is a great platform, as a young designer and a freshly started brand who is seeking a spot in the sustainable fashion arena, I am so excited to ramp up my collection of "Reincarnation" of blooming sustainability with craft + innovation,” Jinendra