Sunday Observer fashion designer - 2010:

Fashion designer semi-finals in two weeks

By Thulasi MUTTULINGAM

The Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year semi-finals is just two weeks away. All those who have sent in applications, brace yourselves. The last date the coupon will be published is August 29. The semi-finals are on August 31.

The venue is the Sovereign Corporate Hotel, Rajagiriya. All contestants who applied should be present at the venue, with their sketches by 9.00 am where a panel of judges will evaluate them to shortlist 20 contestants for the final show on October 16.

Age, sex, educational qualifications and training background are no bar; all you need is talent. Sometimes you might be more talented than you think - don’t hold back in the belief that you might not be good enough! The contestant featured in these pages last week, Nishika Samaratunga was just 13-years-old when she became the first runner-up of the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2005.

She said she thought long and hard before applying at the last minute because she felt sure all the other contestants would be older, more talented and experienced and/or professionally trained graduates of fashion schools. Yet she beat several others to get into the finals and even became the first runner-up.

Lot to gain

Whether you are a schoolgoer or a professional employed in a completely different field, a housewife or someone past the first flush of youth, if you think you have a talent for fashion design, then just apply. You have nothing to lose and the possibility of a lot to gain.

And that applies even if you are an established fashion designer. The Second runner up of the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2008, Ruwani Lokuge had already been working in the field for six years when she saw the advertisement and applied.

She had always been interested in the field of fashion design. So soon after her Advanced Level Examination, she enrolled at the then Clothing Industry Training Institute (now the Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel) and upon graduating, worked at Mondy Garments as a designer for five years.

She then left for Singapore to continue her higher education in Fashion Design at the Lasalle College of Arts and worked for a sportswear company there. She returned to Sri Lanka to get married and worked for MAS Holdings for a while as well, at which time, she applied to the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year contest and became the second-runner-up.

Great experience

“It was a great experience, I am very grateful, especially to Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne for the opportunity,” she said. “It was my second experience in taking part in a fashion show, the first was in Singapore but I learned a lot.”

She now has her own label, Ruuzo and works freelance, operating mainly through online marketing and her facebook page. She believes that there is a good opportunity for fashion designers in Sri Lanka and having worked in Singapore as well, believes that the industry as it is now, is equivalent to that of Singapore’s. She said there is a good future for those interested in showcasing local themes, materials and styles as these are popular with tourists.

Most of the former contestants have become success stories in the industry. It is now time for another 20 to be given a window of opening to the magical ‘other side’! All the best to those participating.

The official sponsors for the show this year are Singer Sri Lanka, while Ranjan Dedigama of Gems and Jewels (Pvt) Ltd, Maharagama is the sponsor for the officewear segment. Ramzi Rahaman is the official hairdresser/make up artist and Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd is the Beverage Partner.

Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne can be contacted on 0776325118 or 2692153 for clarifications.