'I did it my way'

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

'Success is what you do with what you've got,' they say and for this young girl, participating in an event like the Sunday Observer Fashion Designing Contest 2008 was a challenge for she was a fashion designer by profession reckoning a stint of local and international experience. Having returned to Sri Lanka just four months ago to get married, Ruwani decided to do something different. She wanted to put her skills to test. She decided to participate in this contest, for 'fashion and music are my passion,' she repetitively said with a broad smile. Being her forte she was able to create it and dream about it. And as dreams do come true, she achieved it. She was the second runner up overall of the Sunday Observer Fashion Designing Contest 2008.

A touch of class of elitism, Ruwani had worked with a contrast of both bright and dark colours. From a bright yellow with a mix of green for the season for saree wear to a deep purple with a touch of black with evening wear her contribution was unique and appealing.

'I wanted to do something like this two to three years ago but as I was overseas it did not materialize. The competition was of a very high standard. I spent a lot of time and money for this contest and I think it was a very fair judgment and the judges decision is final.

All the collections were very good, they were very advanced in fact. But I feel that the finalists should have been acknowledged on stage and given tokens of appreciation for their participation because it entailed a lot of hard work within a short time frame of just two weeks. However, 'all's well that ends well'.

Ruwani Lokuge is presently a senior fashion designer at MAS Holdings for the renowned powerhouse label 'Victoria Secret.' While in Sri Lanka she studied a basic pattern making course at the Clothing Industry and Training Institute (CITI) had worked with Mondy's, an exclusive fashion label in Sri Lanka. Thereafter, she left to pursue a degree in fashion designing at the La Salle Sai University in Singapore. Having completed the degree she tied up as a fashion designer with Port Ultimate (Pvt) Ltd where she worked for a while before deciding to return to Sri Lanka.

'My signature is casual and sports wear. Presently I am doing a lot of bonding and moulding at MAS. I will be launching my own brand 'Ruuzoo' very soon. The name is Japanese. Being inspired very much by the work of Japanese designer Isiniyake, I chose to go for a Japanese name and work with J texture, culture, design and shape which will suit the Sri Lankan market in the near future.' A past pupil of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte and Visaka Vidyalaya, Ruwani is content with what she is doing.

'The future belongs after all to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' as it has been for young Ruwani who will be much seen and heard of in the local scenario in the days ahead.