Hosted across three hotels to make Colombo come alive
Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) returns from March 6th to 9th 2024, for its 21st edition, marking a significant milestone and promising a future brimming with innovation for the fashion industry of Sri Lanka. This year the platform focuses on multiple locations around Colombo to make the city come alive, as it’s also an apt time for travelers to experience the creativity and cultural richness of Colombo.
Since 2003, CFW has played a pivotal role in reviving, guiding, and building pride in Sri Lanka’s fashion industry. From humble beginnings featuring a handful of designers, it has blossomed into a thriving ecosystem embracing sustainability and empowering young talent. More than 80% of today’s leading Sri Lankan designers are the product of CFW’s development system, a testament to its impact.
Under the visionary leadership of Managing Director Ajai Vir Singh, CFW has championed sustainability, introducing initiatives such as Ethical Fashion Day, the Responsible Fashion Summit, and the innovative tool, Responsible Meter. These efforts have positioned CFW as a leader in ethical fashion globally, attracting renowned designers from Europe, Australia, and South Asia, alongside esteemed Sri Lankan designers, fostering knowledge exchange, and showcasing the burgeoning talent of Sri Lankan designers alongside established industry names.
This year, with the focus to promote Colombo as an attractive destination, CFW transcends runways, transforming the city into a vibrant tapestry of style, showcasing the best of Sri Lankan and international design and fusing it with the unmatched charm of Colombo. Project Colombo goes beyond the catwalk, embracing the city as its muse. Expect intimate events scattered across iconic Colombo landmarks, each showcasing breathtaking collections by established and emerging Sri Lankan designers. Stay tuned for exclusive brand experiences, and captivating talks that delve into the industry’s trends and the impact of CFW on Sri Lanka’s fashion landscape.
This edition will showcase international designers from Italy, England, Pakistan, and India including – Samant Chauhan, Payal Pratap, Alessandra Lorusso, Manoviraj Khosla, Afsana Ferdousi, Charlotte Allen, who will showcase along prominent Sri Lankan designers such as Asanka De Mel, Darshi Keerthisena, Sonali Dharmawardena, Amilani Perera, Aslam Hussein, Kamil Hewawitharana, Dinushi Pamunuwa, Ayesh Wickramaratne, Charini Suriyage, and over ten emerging designers. The show dates begin from March 6th to the 9th.
“This is Colombo Fashion Week’s 21st year and we plan to use the Platform to showcase Colombo not only as a vibrant destination for travellers but also as a centre that facilitates the creative industries. We want our platforms to showcase Sri Lanka in the region. Colombo Fashion Week will take place across multiple locations on Galle Road, it’s a new format” says Ajai Vir Singh, Managing Director, CFW Holdings.
Colombo Fashion Week continues its meticulously curated fashion experience in partnership with the globally reputed brand Mastercard, the esteemed title partner. Their vision to digitize sustainably by the year 2025 and nurture and support SMEs aligns with the vision of CFW.
Host hotels include Cinnamon Grand, Colombo where heritage meets contemporary chic; Taj Samudra, Colombo, with unparalleled service and breathtaking ocean views, and Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, where colonial charm and modern amenities collide.
Chupa Chups by Perfetti joins us as our lifestyle confectionary brand.
NDB Wealth Management joins us this year as our investment and wealth management partner.
Another partner continuing to support CFW is Juniper Group which offers a unique real estate and financial investment portfolio, along with our eyewear partner Vision Care, and Tresamme, the haircare partner.
The iconic Ramani Fernando has been part of this journey since its inception as the official hair and make-up partner. Hameedia continues to extend its longstanding affiliation with CFW.
Also joining us on board this year are Wijeya Newspapers, Hardtalk, and Emerging Media to elevate CFW 2024 to unparalleled heights.