Sunday Observer Fashion Designer 2010 :

Showcase for talented individuals

by Thulasi MUTTULINGAM

“Expect a full house for the show this year, at the Main Auditorium of the BMICH”, says founder of the show Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne. The show was her dream child because way back, there were “no avenues for up and coming designers to showcase their talents”. Chula is very proud of the fact that the contest she launched was the first of its kind in the country. It proved so popular and brought to the fore so much talent, that others soon followed suit. “We then had only dress makers” not fashion designers.

Not that there is anything wrong with dress making but we had some very creative talent which went unrecognised and unapplauded. It lacked the glamour the fashion industry gives it today.”

Chula herself got into the field because she was a model and then became a designer-model. She has had shows in places as far flung as the UK, Australia and Malaysia and says that there is a great demand for our local talent abroad. “So many of our previous contestants have been able to put this demand to good use.

It’s very hard to see quite a few of them anymore; some have gone abroad, some keep flying in and out and some are extremely busy in Sri Lanka itself.And keep in mind that the demand is not only for western wear like dresses or shorts. Many foreigners like the sari. They go crazy over my Kandyan collections every time I have a show abroad.” The contest is a good way of identifying talent as well as allowing those talented individuals to get some much needed exposure and publicity according to Chula. She says that anyone with talent can use the competition as a springboard to propel themselves to name and fame.