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| Sunday, 1 December 2002 |
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Keerthi Sri Karunaratne, Sri Lanka's designer who celebrates fifty years in fashion with a special show at the Colombo Hilton this evening talks about trendsetters now and then, in this exclusive interview with Prasad Abu Bakr.
As with everything else, even fashion has had its changes, not only here but globally. Fashion trends have always been at the beck and call of the affluent and the well-to-do. But today, younger people are more and more inclined to wear and set the trends, as they are more independent than their counterparts of yore. For example 25 years ago, younger people depended on their parents (specially mothers) to spend on their clothes, be it for a special occasion or even day to day wear. So teenagers (the girls) had to adhere to certain rules set down to curb their instincts of trying to be way-out. In comparison, today's younger set, most of who secure working status at a very tender age, have the financial stability along with the freedom to decide what they want to wear." These were comments made by Keerthi Sri Karunaratne, our own fashion dictator, who has over the years carved a special niche as a designer of bridal wear.
He further states that, today not only the young, but even others are buying their clothes from the many ready-to-wear shops, in Colombo and the out-stations. Gone are the days when people had pride in coming out with their own ideas and consulting a designer for definition. What was the reason for this? "The media and financial independence put together are responsible," he stressed , adding that even though there are thousands of ideas and trends in today's media, the present day youth lacked the imagination to create clothes to fit their personalit, and their individuality. Instead, it is now "trouser and top" or "the little black dress" that's popularly worn, making them look as if they are in uniform, he claimed. "It was Barbara Sansoni, textile designer and artist, who once said that it was amazing how living in a colourful country like ours people still resort to wearing black for every evening function," said Keerthi. Black is mainly worn to keep people warm in cold winter conditions. But even in Europe, people switch on to bright, electric shades and tones during the summer, especially for evening wear.
Designer Karunaratne claims that the sari draped in any way is an elegant attire which has stood the test of time. Those who love variety and special designs still come to me, he said, adding emphatically that it needs a certain amount of charisma to carry away that graceful garment. Touch on jewellery and accessories, he said: "Today people wear jewellery produced using a range of materials, but even in this aspect, it is the minimalist attitude that is being followed."
However trends and daring fashion comes to a halt, even today, when it comes to deciding on bridal wear, he said. "They all want to retain that feminine and coy look in contrast to what their ideologies are. But it is noticeable that most want to follow current trends." Important observations and useful remarks from one of Sri Lanka's long-standing fashion designers, who will be capping his colourful career with a special celebration marking 50 years of fashion, today. Illustrations by Prasad Abu Bakr |
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Is there anything called local fashion?, "Yes! there was in a big
way" he said adding that at one time, the cloth and jacket became a
highly stylised out-fit worn by many young people. "So was the
Kandyan sari, which was re-styled into many forms and decorated in many
ways. The made-up Kandyan sari is still a popular piece. Today many women
do not want to go through the hassle of wrapping themselves in six metres
of fabric, specially, in a way they think is a complicated manner."
Looking back he recalled how people only adorned the best pieces and
not clay, copper or plastic, as it is done today. He also noted that young
people getting into business dabbling in fashion accessories and clothes,
have given their younger clients more of a choice when it came to
selecting for themselves.
