Sunday Observer Fashion Designer 2010:

Entries pour in

by Thulasi MUTTULINGAM

The race to find the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the year is officially on now. If you think you have what it takes, just fill in the coupon and send it in with a few of your sketches to the specified address. The final date that this coupon will appear in the Sunday Observer is August 1.

Chula Nanayakkara with winners of Fashion Designer 2009

The semi-finals have been scheduled to be held at the BMICH on August 5, (Tuesday) at 9.00 am. All those who applied should be present with samples of their sketches at the semi-finals where an eminent panel of judges will go through their designs.

Twenty applicants will be shortlisted and sent on to the finals on September 11, for the grand event. The show will be compered by Clifford Richard and Ramzi Rahman, the official hairdresser / make up artist. The featured entertainment items for the show will include a performance by the Channa Upuli dancing troupe. The sponsors for the show are Singer Sri Lanka.

Many designers who participated in the show previously have gone on to make a name for themselves in the fashion industry. In an attempt to find out how last year's winner had fared, we asked him how he was doing. He is still working at MAS Holdings, the place where he was working as a merchandiser when he applied for the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer contest.

"I still haven't given up my dreams of being a designer but right now I have some other personal commitments and priorities that have to take up first consideration", says Gihan.

Gihan is a single father of two lovely children, a boy and a girl aged four who are twins.

"I design and stitch their clothes myself whenever I have time," smiles Gihan.

According to Gihan he was interested in fashion from a young age and was often asked fashion advice by his friends, both male and female. However, it was when he joined the apparel industry that he started taking a serious interest in it.

While working, he did a diploma course in Fashion Design at the Lanka Institute of Fashion Design which he says was very useful as it gave him a professional edge.

Gihan with a model

"Most of the other contestants were very talented but I was the only one with a professional portfolio. I kept telling Chula (the show's organiser) that I would definitely win the show," says Gihan.

"My bosses and co workers at MAS were very supportive of me while I was contesting in the show. And the show itself, gave me a good foundation and a lot of confidence as a designer. From there, I went on to do the Lanka Woman fashion design contest held later that year and won that title too. Participating in these contests brought me into contact with many top designers, which I find very useful.

Due to this, I also got to do a show called 'Divas are Back' through an opening given me by designer Louching Wong. It used older and middle aged models to showcase designs for older women as that segment is often neglected."

Asked what advice he had for the next batch of contestants, Gihan says, he wishes them all the best. He also recommended that those who could afford it, try to study Fashion Design as a professional course.

"We have many good institutes in Sri Lanka which teach fashion design. We also have a lot of raw talent. The only problem is that unlike in Western countries, we don't have many opportunities.

Right now, fashion in Sri Lanka is something followed by the cream of society and they are the clientele of only a few top designers. We need to change that mindset, make ordinary people realise what fashion is and that it is something that they can aspire to as well."

He said, "winning the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the year contest gave me a lot of confidence. I hope there will be a good show this year as well. I wish Chula and the contestants all the best and I definitely will be there with all my friends to watch the show."