As innovative and flamboyant apparel collections of young and aspiring fashion designers of the University of Moratuwa (UoM) took the ramp by storm recently, Teejay Lanka PLC, Sri Lanka’s only multinational textile mill and the region’s largest textile manufacturer was on board as the event’s Principal Sponsor for the fifth consecutive year.
Twenty one collections were showcased at the 12th annual Graduation Fashion Show of the University of Moratuwa’s Department of Textile and Clothing Technology, and seven awards were presented to promising final year undergraduates of two degree courses at the event held at the Shangri-La Ballroom, Colombo.
Graduating students launched brand new collections developed from concept to final product at this show, with their creations modelled on the catwalk by professional models.
Teejay Lanka PLC presented the main awards, namely, the Outstanding Designer Brand, the Commercially Creative Designer, the Serendib Inspirational Designer, the Menswear Designer, the Innovative Designer, the Creative Knitwear Designer and the Innovative Textile Fabric Designer.
Commenting on the sponsorship of this event, Teejay Lanka CEO Mr Shrihan Perera said: “Teejay is no stranger to the University of Moratuwa. Over the past five years we have been helping shape the future of students through professional guidance and business exposure. Teejay itself has embarked on a journey of innovation and value addition as the key to its own future, and institutions like the University of Moratuwa, can help accelerate the transformation and strengthening of the local textile industry.”
The panel of judges for these awards comprised of eminent personalities in the fashion world such Piyumi Perera, Head of Design, Hirdaramani Industries; Peter Katz, Freelance Designer; Dinesh Chandrasena, Academic Lead and Fashion Design Coordinator, Raffles College of Design; Naftali Anatol Abelson, Consultant, Brandix and Teejay Group; Darshi Kirthisena, Trend Consultant, Linea Aqua, and Creative Director – Buddhi Batiks; and Michael Steen, Director Innovation Centre, NIKE 360 Holding BV.
The star of the night was Nisansala Deegala, winner of the ‘Outstanding Designer Brand’ Award for her ‘Clothes for Soul’ collection, inspired by the concept of mysticism.
The other main awards were presented to Omali Kulathunga who took home the ‘Innovative Designer’ Award and the ‘Textile Fabric Designer’ Award. Kasun Gayan was adjudged the winner of the ‘Menswear Designer’ Award.
Notably, Omali Kulathunga is also the winner of the international award ‘Circular Ocean’ which was presented for ‘Best Design using throwaway material.’ Her awards at the UoM Fashion Show were presented for her collection ‘Rejected Values’ which was designed from handmade textile crafted from the creative use of poly sacks, cassette tapes, bubble wrap, Styrofoam and the like that potentially pollute the environment and the ocean.
Kasun Gayan’s ‘Technomadic’ was a travel supportive tech-wear collection specially designed for adventure and jungle survival. It also featured functional elements to carry travel essentials without the need for backpacks or luggage.
The other award winners at the event were Shehan Enos, Nushan Bopitiya and Lakni Udara Edirisuriya.
The collaboration between the university and Teejay Lanka PLC was strengthened through a signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2014 that enabled development of opportunities for employment generation and collaboration on strengthening research, design and technical capabilities and product development on a mutually beneficial platform.
The Department of Textile & Clothing Technology of the University of Moratuwa is the largest manpower training provider to the textile and clothing industry of Sri Lanka. The Department conducts two degree courses and offers postgraduate training leading to Master’s and PhD degrees.
One of the region’s largest textile manufacturers, Teejay supplies fabric to some of the best international brands across the world. Teejay Lanka PLC is a public quoted company with 39 per cent public ownership. The company is backed by Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter, Brandix Lanka which has a 33 per cent stake and Pacific Textiles of Hong Kong which owns 28 per cent of the company.
An ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007 compliant company and the first in the industry to develop green fabric, Teejay has been listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) since 2011 and was included in the S&P Top 20 Index in Sri Lanka last year. The Company has also been named among the Forbes ‘200 Best under a Billion in Asia’ and been recognised as the ‘International Textile Firm of the Year’ and the ‘International Dyer and Finisher’ by World Textile Institute, London.