Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) is constantly looking for ways to take Sri Lankan designers global, giving them greater exposure and the opportunity to reach the world have recently inked an MOU with ASIAN Fashion Week (AFW), keeping in line its objective of showcasing Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry on a global platform.

CFW to build and promote the country’s fashion industry would be taking five Sri Lankan designers to ASIAN Fashion Week (AFW) which will take place from 15 to 18 August 2014 in Surabaya City, Indonesia. AFW is a global platform that enhances the cultural exchange between designers and celebrates Asia’s diversity whilst making fashion a universal language.

Speaking about the association, Ajai Vir Singh, President, Colombo Fashion Week stated they have been working with AFW over the years to enhance and take the Sri Lankan fashion design industry to an international level. Five designers selected will represent different aspects of Sri Lankan design at AFW.

Designer Indi Abeywardena and Sonali Dharmawardane will showcase the intricate details of the local batik industry, Fouzul Hameed will highlight the menswear industry and Ramona Oshini, a CFW designer will showcase her work with the local Craft Council which promotes handloom and handmade jewellery. Showing at AFW also gives each of them the opportunity to meet with international buyers.

AFW commemorates an unprecedented Fashion Week, opening up a spectrum of opportunities for both the creative and commercial designers, exhibiting unparalleled fashion and stylish eccentricity originating from modern Asia, Central Asia, Eurasia, Africa and South America.

Arwin Sharma, President of Group Fashion Weeks said that as AFW develops its expansion both within Asia and globally, they are looking forward to Sri Lankan designers showcasing their work on stage at AFW. They also appreciate the support received from Ajai which assisted the formation of World Fashion Organization (WFO) – ASIAN Fashion Week (AFW) and the Regional Chapter for Asia which includes Sri Lanka.

Group Fashion Week is responsible for ASIAN / ASEAN Fashion Week, Indian Ocean Fashion Week, Seychelles Fashion Week, Silk Road Fashion Week, World Islamic Fashion Week and World Indigenous Fashion Week. Collectively formed as a global non-profit organization, Group Fashion Week and its subsidiary companies were created to promote the integration of the global fashion industry, in order to bring together designers from around the world.

Group Fashion Week also strives to encourage the expansion of world fashion, international fashion business relationships, trade opportunities and understanding among designers from different cultures and nations.

AFW’s mission is to establish itself as a major fashion movement for fashion designers providing a platform for them to optimize their international exposure and global reach. The development of the movement will also lead to economic growth and a greater understanding of the principles of fair and free trade, which will accelerate the growth of the fashion and textile industry.

AFW is supported by the World Fashion Organization (WFO), International Fashion Organization (IFO), International Trade Organization (ITO), World Fashion Brands & Merchandising Group (WFBM Group), as well as the ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nations) Secretariat which represents 10 member states, international partners and stakeholders.