Entertainment

Vote for Most Popular Fashion Designer

The countdown begins

Observer Fashion Designer of the Year 2007 presented by Chula Nanayakkara:

The countdown begins for the exciting event of the year as twelve finalists are busy getting their outfits ready for the jury to make their judgement. Readers are informed that due to unavoidable medical reasons contestant Jeewani Dantanarayana was unfortunately compelled to withdraw and in her place the next finalist is Danushka Prasad Ratnayake.

So remember that Danushka is in the voting list. Also remember, that the finalist who gets the most number of votes will be given points and will be crowned as the Sunday Observer Designer of the Year. The points earned by the others will be added to their final results at the show on November 3 at the BMICH.

Tickets are moving fast and those of you who are booking your tickets on line are requested to get in touch with Custom Care Line 2591401. Despite the finalists' heavy involvement, the Sunday Observer spoke to some of them to gain insight views.

Nina Amerasinghe - just 22 years and feels happy about the contest. "I tried in 2005 but was not successful. There are so many designers in Sri Lanka who are going unnoticed and unappreciated and this contest gives the opportunity for them to move into the spotlight.

Basically I like designing and being a designer because you can express your ideas on paper and make everybody beautiful and make them feel beautiful. My favourite segment is office wear and two piece outfits.

Red is my favourite colour because I think it gives you a lot of confidence. In evening wear I favour long dresses with slits, it reflects elegance. Saree wear, well, I go for the embroidered saree. For the show I'm modelling my own outfits."

Nina has had no formal training in fashion designing. From the age of 12 she dabbled in drawing sketches having inherited the artistic genes from her family. They travelled a lot since her father is in the Foreign Ministry and this helped her in gaining newer ideas.

Anne Lambert - twenty years old and this is her first-time-participation in contests. "I'm going for a win! I graduated from the Academy of Design, Colombo 3 and am in the bridal business at Negombo my home town.

It's a good thing this contest for it gives an opportunity for the young to come up in life. I favour evening wear and sarees. For evening wear I go according to my client's taste. But I like long dresses with high slits which are still in fashion.

Ofcourse my choice of colours are red, black, white and blue. Where office wear is concerned I'm not that particular because today people wouldn't want to spend for such outfits when they can get it off the shelf.

I offered Art for the O Levels and I enjoy hand embroidery which is self taught from when I was quite young. I learnt from the TV programmes and from books and I must thank my parents for their wonderful support in buying all the books for me. I've got my own models for the show."

Shashi Ratnayake - who is also in her twenties expressed her opinion that she was excited in taking part in the contest and quite naturally is hoping to win recognition. "I followed a course at Nitta Fashion Designing and I'm glad this contest is on.

I must thank my parents and my teachers for all the help in this field. I studied Art in school, offered the subject for my O Levels and have been interested in designing from my young days. I prefer to design for office and saree wear. I favour the colour black and leopard prints and my model for the show will be Danielle.

Ann Jayathika Fernando - graduated from the Colombo Academy of Design, worked at Vision Apparels as a Junior Designer and then got an opportunity with a fashion clothing company in the Middle East and gained valuable experience. "I'm really happy to participate in the contest.

It gives us a chance for exposure not only in the Sri Lankan market but also the foreign markets. Designing for saree is a new experience.

I prefer the indian saree touched up with embroidery glamour. For office wear its skirt and blouse for me - suitable for a business woman. I'm interested in bright lively colours and I favour yellow, brown, orange and red.

In casual wear my choice is trendy, flexible tunic tops and three quarter pants in blue and white. I'm looking forward to win."

Launch of a music magazine
 

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

For the first time in Sri Lanka the Entertainment Media Service (EMS) group recently launched a Music Magazine titled ‘Beat’ for the music fans. Wasitha Pinnawala Director Marketing said, in this period we can see a huge growth of the music industry and youth are keeping interested in music.

In the print media there’s no music Magazine. This Magazine includes all types of international music and Sri Lankan music (Western, Oriental etc). “We have mainly focused on young crowd with a leaning towards the modern music. Pinnawala said, this is issued once in two months and it cost only Rs. 100. For the launch they have printed 5,000 books and they expect to sell 98% from that.

It is also available in any book shop. Those who wish to write for the magazines can contribute articles he added.

A spiritual CD from Gypsies
 

by Mahes Perera

Thirty five years in the music scene and be still popular too is no easy task and Gypsies have achieved it with success. As a gesture of thanksgiving and for the blessings they enjoyed the group have released a CD titled “How Can I Thank You” which contains 18 tracks of spiritual songs that took two years in the making.

About six songs are originals sung in Sinhala and English and leading singers joined Sunil and Piyal lending their voices in solo and harmony. The children of Sunil, Piyal, Nihal and Nimal of the original Gypsies too made their contribution in the spiritual “I Know Who Holds The Future” and a children’s choir in an attractive rendition of Everything is Beautiful .

There’s a bonus track too which is a tribute to Cumar Peiris - who was a strong keyboardist and arranger for the Gypsies. “We used the voices of almost all the leading singers today and I must thank them and Raj Seneviratne, Duleep Gnanakan, Suresh de Silva and George de Silva for their technical assistance.

The proceeds from the sale of the CD’s will benefit charities and a Trust has been nominated for this purpose” says Piyal.

BDFI’s Dance Festival

Three times World Showcase Dance Champions as well as US Open Latin Champion Alla Profitalova will be in Sri Lanka to perform specially at the Dance Festival of the Ballroom Dancers Federation International Sri Lanka which will be held on October 25 at Waters Edge.

The BDFI has made all arrangements for competitors to have classes from her free of charge. Dancing on Wheels a multi style dancing show has attracted as much as 152 competitors islandwide.

The Wheel Chair Dancers will be in action doing the Jive, Cha Cha, Waltz and Quickstep to vie for the Dialog Trophy. In the Hip-Hop segment competitors will vie for the Rollo Trophy. The proceeds from the show are in aid of the Wheel Chair Dance Projects.