National Craft Council and Colombo Fashion Week present ‘CRAFTALIVE’

In a continuous effort to develop fashion designers who bring design innovations to crafts, NCC in partnership with CFW recently announced the unique ‘CRAFTALIVE’ initiative. NCC and CFW will host their first ‘CRAFTALIVE’ show on 28 August against the backdrop of Independence Square. In just over a decade, Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) has established itself as the backbone of the local fashion design industry and is collaborating with NCC to further promote crafts and fashion in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the initiative, The Crafts Council of Sri Lanka Chairman Buddhi Keerthisen stated, “At the National Crafts Council we are continuously striving to empower men and women in crafts as this industry is the backbone of many rural economies in Sri Lanka. We want to ensure that arts and crafts remain relevant and in existence in our country and this is why we are very proud of our partnership with Colombo Fashion Week.This initiative will not only highlight our unique crafts but will give Sri Lankans an opportunity to showcase their work globally.”
Colombo Fashion Week President Ajai Vir Singh further added, “Together we have created a platform to showcase a fusion of crafts in fashion. We named it ‘CRAFTALIVE’, as our aim is to give added impetus to crafts. Our first show will take place against the backdrop of one of Sri Lanka’s most significant national monuments, which is a first for the fashion industry. We believe that this will give us a differentiated platform that will boost the craft industry and showcase a unique line of fashion.”
The first ‘CRAFTALIVE’ show will showcase six renowned Sri Lankan designers who have been featured on the catwalks of Colombo Fashion Week. The stellar line up of designers includes Ramona Oshini, Indi Abeywardena and winner of the 2013 CFW Gen Next Designer Award, Sharmilawho will debut her label ARRA. Also being featured at the event, ‘U by Upeksha’ offering a fresh design perspective along with DarshiKeerthisenawill also show her collection ofhandcrafted batiks blended into high fashion.
The collections will showcase a blend of beeralu, lace, metal and brass crafts, jewellery, rush, palmyrah, batik, handloom, fabric painting and wooden crafts. ‘CRAFTALIVE’ is also part of Shilpa Udana, which showcases the talents and skills of Sri Lanka’s award winning artisans and craftspeople from across the country. Operating under the theme of ‘Sustaining Livelihood and Revival of Traditions’, Shilpa Udana uses exhibitions, festivals and awareness programmes to promote and empower craftsmen and women in Sri Lanka.
Incorporating the rich heritage of traditional arts and crafts available in Sri Lanka, ‘CRAFTALIVE’ aims to empower young artisans through fashion design in order to create individual creative products and collections.  The Crafts Council of Sri Lanka is headed by its Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena, under the aegis of the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development and Ajai Vir Singh, President, Colombo Fashion Week. The council strives to promote collaborations and the unique integration of fashion and crafts that will enable Sri Lankan designers and craft artists to develop distinctly exceptional fashion and lifestyle products.