SUNDAY OBSERVER Fashion Designer - 2010:

All's ready for Tuesday's semis

By Thulasi MUTTULINGAM

And finally we are almost there - the day that most aspiring young fashion designers across the country have been waiting for. The semi finals of the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2010 will take off the day after tomorrow. A lucky 20 participants will get the chance to make it through to the big show, the finale on October 16.

Dulakshi Jayasekera being awarded the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2007, by ANCL Chairman, Bandula Padmakumara.

If you haven't applied yet but would like to, take heart. Just fill in the coupon and walk in with a portfolio of your sketches into the Sovereign Hotel, Rajagiriya, 9.00 a.m. on Tuesday. A panel of judges awaits you to go through your sketches and make the difficult judgments to whittle the final contestants to 20.

The team at the Sunday Observer and the show's organiser, fashion designer Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne wishes you all the best. We look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday.

Just do the very best you can on your sketches and walk in confidently; the rest is up to your destiny, talent and of course the judges.

According to the winner of the title in 2007, Dulakshi Jayasekera, winning and consequently being a successful fashion designer is not all about being able to sketch beautiful designs. A very important facet which most young designers tend to overlook is that they have to be workable and wearable designs too. She stitched her own designs for the show and modelled them herself as well. As such she knew exactly how the designs would look when stitched and how to wear them.

"I know many young people who can sketch beautiful designs but they have no idea how that translates into tailoring and wearability, which is a minus point. You can't be a fashion designer only by drawing exotic designs, you should know all the other facets of the art to make the package complete."

She had always wanted to be a fashion designer ever since she could remember and was enrolled in the diploma course at the Lanka Institute of Fashion Design in 2007 when she came across the Sunday Observer advertisement. She had no previous experience but applied anyway.

Little did she imagine that she would be the winner but she was a big hit amongst the audience and judges with her creations that she modelled herself and even though she hadn't completed her diploma, was immediately flooded with job offers.

However, she opted to finish her diploma first and then joined MAS for a brief stint before branching out on her own. She now specialises in bridalwear and having done a beautician's course as well, operates a small salon off her home in Pitakotte.

She designed her own bridalwear for her wedding last year and is very happy with her chosen vocation and her place in it.

Asked whether there is enough scope for fashion designers in Sri Lanka to operate within the country, she asks "Why not?" but goes on to add, "But it's best if they choose to specialise in an uncommon field.

I myself aim to launch my brand in honeymoon lingerie, very soon. If you have a niche like that to set you apart, you can make a name for yourselves very easily."

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 any clarifications.