Sunday Observer: CATS SINGER Designer of the Year 2012

Semi finals on Sept 16

By Mahes PERERA

The semi finals of the CATS SINGER Designer of the Year 2012, according to the organisers will be held on Sunday September 16 at the Rainbow Banquet Hall of the Grand Oriental Hotel.

All contestants are requested to be ready with their outfits and their models for the judges to cast their critical eye on their designs.

The selection will be held from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on that day. Also, as from today, readers will have the opportunity to vote for the Sunday Observer Popular Designer of the Year 2012.

The coupon to send in your votes is printed on this page, so hurry send in your votes and ensure that your favourite designer wins the contest.

Today we begin pen sketches of some of the contestants - Roshani Fernando, Shamika Madhuvanthi Malwatte, Kumashini Mendis, Sabry Junaid and Sulochana Amarasinghe.

The Sunday Observer is the print media partner of CATS SINGER Designer of the Year 2012, while the Grand Oriental Hotel is the official hotel.

The other sponsors are Sterling Flowers, Semage Mirrors, Rite Shu, Elegant Smockers, Furnifits and Y FM Radio.

Sabry Junaid

A proud product of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Sabry Junaid says he will always be indebted to his college for building his self-confidence and his courage to think positively in life. "My ambition to be a fashion designer has been accomplished to a great extent under the guidance of my tutors at L.I.F.T. (Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology). I work at NOLIMIT as a fashion designer. I dealt mainly in gents outfits Now I'm a freelance fashion designer having designed several outfits for celebrities and personalities in our country. My endeavour is to reach greater heights in the field of fashion designing."

Shamika Madhuvanthi Malwatte

"Fashion designing has always been my big dream from my young days. From the days I can remember I used to draw styles of dresses and I acquired a kind of confidence which made me design my wedding outfits. I am 27 years, I work as a banker and am studying fashion designing at the Open University of Sri Lanka. My formal education in fashion designing has increased my interest in the subject. Watching TV programs especially 'Project Runway' has helped me a great deal. I have learnt a lot about fashion illustrations, colour theories through these programs as well through fashion magazines Clair, Elle and Vogue. My favourite fashion designer is Giorgio Armani. I like his clean, sophisticated cuts and Christian Siriano for his innovative designs.

This is the first time I'm taking part in a competition of this nature and I've chosen the categories saree wear, office wear, casual wear, evening wear and kiddies wear. If I win the competition I'd start my own label and someday present my designs at the New York Fashion week. I knew that it is a big dream but then it's great to aim for the stars.

Kumashini Mendis

"I live in Nagoda, Kandana. I studied at St. Lawrence's Convent, Wellawatte. After my A/Levels I followed a fashion design course at Fashion Tec as well as a pattern making course at C.I.T.I. (Clothing Industrial Training Institute) at Ratmalana. This is the second time that I'm taking part in a fashion design competition and I'm enjoying the special experience of fashion for the future.

"I've selected bridal wear, evening wear, swim wear, office wear and casual wear to spotlight my creativity."

Roshani Fernando

She hails from Negombo and has been involved in designing and dressmaking for the past 15 years, and is happy to record that her students secured the first place in the Western Province, Sewing Contest. She has a Diploma in Sewing and is involved in providing designs for many apparel industries in Sri Lanka.

Sulochana Amarasinghe

"Fashion designing has become a part of my life. I started to design and sew clothes from my young days. I've completed a Diploma in Fashion Designing and am following a Degree in Fashion Design. I design bridal outfits as well as glamour outfits. I have also designed uniforms and functional dresses. I work full-time at Diesel Motor Engineering PLC but I keep in touch with designing skills. I'm influenced by the design tastes of Gucci, Dolce Gabbana, Alexandra McQueen and Anna Sule. By the and of the year I'm planning to open my design store in Colombo. I'm glad that the Sunday Observer has given the opportunity to bring out the hidden talent of young designers. Here's wishing the organisers good luck to carry out an excellent contest.