|
Young designer in wheelchair:
Anushka’s red-letter day
by Tyrell Peiris
 September 17 was a red-letter day for Anushka de Silva, a gifted
fashion designer from Panadura. For this 24-year old, who is handicapped
by partial paralysis found September 17 give her the greatest
satisfaction in her life because she was able to showcase her fashion
designs at the Sunday Observer sponsored Fashion Designer of the year
2009 contest.
The venue was the BMICH auditorium and Anushka confesses that her
heart beat fast that afternoon as she presented her designs, evening
wear, sportswear, saree and casual wear of the 60 odd participants
Anushka was one of the starry-eyed. Of course she did not win. But above
all, the occasion had more than winning set up the stage to go places.
“My exhibits certainly caught the eye”, reminisced Anushka, who was
all smiles and thrilled that her efforts had brought her to the
limelight in a field which she said she had fallen in love as a little
child. What was moving about this fashion designer was that she came in
a wheelchair to that glittering hall full of determination to display
her designs.
Her mother Eunice, who has been behind her daughter’s success said
that she did not let her disability to stand in the way. “I realised
that my eldest daughter among my three children had a liking to draw and
i let her persue that field”, said mom Eunice who was all praise for
that veteran fashion designer Chula Nanayakkara who has been the driving
force behind dress and fashion going places in Sri Lanka. Chula has
caught the eye of the Sunday Observer in breathing new life into the
field, particularly making contests of this nature a great success.
This year’s contest is the sixth successive one that has brought the
young and old fashion people under one umbrella in showcasing their
latent talents.
Coming back to Anushka she and her mother Eunice say that it was
Chula who injected new life in Anushka by encouraging her all the way
once she met them after this aspirant had applied to join the contest.
Anushka, who was educated in North Olmstead, Ohio in the USA where
she schooled, obtained from High School in 2004 her General Certificate
of Education.
 Following her great day at the BMICH, Anushka hopes to make designing
her profession.
She said that she intends starting a shop and put out special
accessories like designed bags, pouches and dresses including
sportswear.
Her father is Raja de Silva, a former St.Joseph’s College, Colombo
cricketer who is ever so keen to join his wife Eunice in giving their
daughter further encouragement to pursue a life career that is so
enchanting.
Of Chula, Eunice had this to say, “She (Chula) is like the mother
earth. She has done so much to cheer up and spur my daughter from the
day she met her recently.” |
