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by Chamitha Kuruppu

Nearly a decade ago, when young Conrad Fernando wanted to widen his knowledge about Fashion Designing, he had very few options. Lack of institutions and resource personnel in Sri Lanka led Conrad to pursue his education on fashion designing in the United Kingdom. Today, this lad armed with a BA Honours in Clothing Designing with Textiles from the Manchester Metropolitan University is back in the country after many years for a worthy cause. Conrad is here to set up his own Design Studio for underprivileged youth with a love for fashion designing.

Conrad also boasts of a Btech National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Fashion Designing as well as a Diploma from the City and Guilds Tailoring and Designing for Fashion Institute in Northern Ireland. During his Internship at the Manchester Design Company, young Conrad had the privilege of working with world renowned designers. He has also worked with the Disney Store trying his hands on designing children's sports wear.

His involvement in many charity programmes in Northern Ireland made this amateur Sri Lankan designer a well-known figure in the industry. During his tenure in Northern Ireland Conrad conducted several charity fashion shows and his efforts were praised and highlighted by the media.

Thanks God Conrad was blessed with a number of offers from reputed design companies in Northern Ireland. He returned to the country last year and worked as a Designer at Brandix for a couple of months. "Tidal waves that struck the country last year made me think twice about my dreams and ambitions.

Having decided to help the country and people affected due to tsunami I gave up my designing career for a while. At present I am working with a German charity organisation helping the tsunami victims," says Conrad.

Although, he is now involved in something totally different, Conrad says he will continue to study Fashion Designing. Conrad is working on a research project called "1940's Arriving in Bali" an in-depth study about fashion during the World War II. "I am studying different fabrics, cuts and designs that were in use during the World War II. A designer collection of such clothes blended with the Asian touch will be the outcome of the research," stresses Conrad.

His next step will be to organise a fashion show in order to set up a design studio for underprivileged youth. "There are many talented youth in the country who desire to study fashion designing. By setting up the studio I want to provide them more opportunities and share my knowledge with them," says Conrad.

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