Spectrum | Sundayobserver.lk

It was a night of flamboyance and grandeur, a night when many a star were born when twelve amateurs, gifted young girls and boys whose forte was designing made it a platform to flaunt their spectacular array of multi-hued designer wear vying for the Observer Designer of the Year 2007 at the BMICH last Saturday, November 3.

Dulakshi Jayasekera receiving the Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2007 award from Chairaman of ANCL, Bandula Padmakumara	Dinesh Weerawansa, Editor Sunday Observer awarding the trophy to the Most Popular Fashion Designer, Wyomi Ranasinghe. Associate Editor (Features) Sunday Observer, Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson looks on.
Four winners Subashini Wickremaratne,Office Wear, Dulakshi Jayasekera, Sunday Observer Designer of the Year 2007 contest and winner of Evening Wear, Buddika Samarakoon, winner of Casual Wear and Wyomi Ranasinghe, first runner up and winner of the Observer Most Popular Contestant award.	The eminent panel of judges, Dinesh Weerawansa, Editor Sunday Observer,Ramani Fernando,hair dresser and beautician, Kirthi Sri Karunaratne, Fashion designer, Rozanne Diaz, Former Miss Sri Lanka 2005 for Miss Universe, and Deshanbandu Susara Dinal, Director Mharajah Organisation.
Nuwan Perera receiving a certificate of participation from Associate Editor (Features) Sunday Observer, Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson	Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne receiving a bouquet from Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson, Associate Editor (Features) Sunday Observer
The Latino segment	Amasha de Silva, second runner up receiving an award from Director Legal, Administration and Welfare, Rasanga Harischandra.
The Top Hat Dance	A dance item by the Chandana Wickremasinghe dancers

Incredible talent for a first attempt, the grandiosity of the outfits certainly portrayed a flair for designing; a display of creativity at its best. Versatile and exceptionally good, the designers, some of them presently engaged in professions quite to the contrary, by their creations and participation however successfully and subtly reversed the myth that a combination of diversified interest is a farfetched fantasy.

All this was made possible of course because of one vivacious lady who has been no stranger to the fashion designing industry herself, Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne who magnanimously initiated this contest to bring aspiring young talent to the forefront with a view to facilitating viable job opportunities here and abroad.

The contest, sponsored by the Sunday Observer for the fourth time, gave exposure to emancipate the innate talent of many enthusiastic contestants who sent in their entries for the competition and subsequently participated in the contest.

The eminent panel of judges both at the semi finals and finals said "the selection of the twelve finalist was easier said than done," and it sure was; the creations eventually summed it all up.

To add finesse to the glamorous event was the oriental presentation of 'Kadupul' and the 'Sea Horse and Mermaid' by the Chandana Wickremasinghe dance troupe with graceful expressions of evocative movement along with 'The Top Hat Dance,' a more urbane dance act with a blend of western classical and modern ballet presented by Kanthi Ranchigoda.

Moving to the Latino beat were the popular duo, Kevin and Natasha who stirred the momentum of the evenings proceedings; an item of entertainment well accepted by the audience.

Most Popular Actor and Award Winning Dancer, Suraj Mapa too did his stint with Diana Grey to add exuberance to the event while the singing sensation, Theekshana Anuradha, a former Sirasa Superstar finalist, held the audience spellbound with 'Sandarenu'.

The grand finale, the Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2007 contest saw the twelve designers Nuwan Perera, Amasha de Silva, Madola Ratnayake, Buddhika Samarakoon, Subashini Wickremaratne, Wyomi Ranasinghe, Dhanushka Prasad Ramanayake, Dilakshi Jayasekera, Jayatika Fernando, Sashi Ratnayake, Anne Lambert and Nina Amerasinghe. Exhibit the creations in four segments starting off with Casual Wear which was won by Buddhika Samarakoon, modeled by Ayesha.

The second segment of the show was the Office Wear which was won by Subashini Wickremaratne modeled by Adriana. The winner of the Evening Wear and Saree segments was Dulakshi Jayasekera who was also adjudged the Winner of the Observer Fashion Designer of the Year Contest 2007.

The Most Popular Designer of the Contest which was picked on the vote count went to Wyomi Ranasinghe whose creations were modelled by Piumi and who was also adjudged the First Runner Up of the Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2007 contest while Amarsha de Silva was placed Second Runner Up, her outfits were modelled by Rozelle.

Dulakshi Jayasekera, the winner and Nina Amerasinghe were the only two contestants who modeled their own creations. As the saying goes, 'Age is no barrier' it proved so true when eleven-year-old Twinkle Goonethilaka, the youngest contestant was selected as a finalist but was unfortunately not permitted to participate in the finals as she was far below the age requirement.

She was awarded a Special Merit Award for her creations and enthusiasm to participate in such a contest which required skill at a very tender age.

A special acknowledgement to Ramzi Rahaman, the official beautician and hairdresser and Nalika de Soyza who assisted him in bringing out the best, without whose expertise the show would not have been a success and the voice that kept the contest going, Clifford Richards who were part and parcel of the contest.

In the hot seat were the eminent panel adjudicators for the contest, Keerthi Sri Karunaratne, veteran fashion designer, Ramani Fernando, veteran hairdresser and beautician, Rozanne Diaz, Former Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe 2005 and model, Dinesh Weerawansa, Editor, Sunday Observer and Deshabandu Susara Dinal, Member of the Board of Directors, Maharajah Organisation who had a difficult task picking the winners.

The contest was held under the patronage of Bandula Padmakumara, Chairman, Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (ANCL), Dinesh Weerawansa, Editor, Sunday Observer, Deshabandu Susara Dinal, Member of the Board of Directors, Maharaja Organisation, Rohan Sirisena, General Manager, Ceylinco Internet Services Limited, Per Gunnarsson, Managing Director, Oriflame, Sri Lanka, Nimal Ariyartne, Chairman Anura PVC (Pvt) Ltd and many distinguished guests who graced the occasion.

The star-studded evenings presentation of designer wear of high quality, glamour and glitter came to a close on a happy note with the presenter, Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne left with cherished memories of yet another milestone in her career, a name to be remembered as one of Sri Lanka's most eminent dress designers of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

New fashion born on a glamorous night!