Her sense of fashion is certainly not dictated by the ever changing trend cycle or by the ‘what’s hot’ rhetoric. Maithili Ahluwalia, who can be credited for her state of the art store, Bungalow 8 (which houses an eclectic mix of designers from all over the globe) is a seeker of original ideas. And this time her search took her to Colombo, Srilanka.
A short vacation at Villa Bentota, a resort near Colombo, designed by Shanth Fernando (the legendary Srilankan lifestyle connoisseur) inspired her to curate her latest exhibition. During her stay, she got to explore the lifestyle empire created by Shanth. But what influenced Maithli the most was, The Gallery Cafe ( one of Shanth’s many artistic ventures) a space to unwind, designed by the iconic Srilankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. As Maithili explains “In spirit, it was Geoffrey Bawa’s Tropical Modernism but interpreted through a more modern, relevant prism that was Sri Lanka in the new world,”. The rich layers of different design elements put together under one roof left a strong impression on Maithili’s mind.
Result? she reached out to Annika, daughter of Shanth, a force in her own right.
Much like Maithili, she too draws parallels between local and global elements of art, design and fashion. Annika, launched PR, a concept fashion and a lifestyle store in 2013. Through her store, she is trying to give Srilankan designers a much required global voice and a platform.
Annika works with a number of designers such as Sonali Dharmawardena, who uses traditional batik and gives it an unexpected spin; KUR, that evokes old Ceylon with handmade Dutch Lace in breezy silhouettes; Papillon Du The, her sister, Saskia’s jewellery brand.
To help celebrate and provide a strong recognition to these designers, Bungalow 8 is curating a 3-day exhibition ( from 31st March – 2nd April 2017). The designers who will be a part of this one of a kind showcase are.
1. ANUK – A ready to wear label by Samaadhi Weerasinghe, is all about simple silhouettes and accentuates the idea of ‘lazy elegance’.
2. MAUS – A label by Annika Fernando which is all about high-end design, impeccable construction and ethical manufacturing.
3. KT Brown – KT Brown is meant for a few who fearlessly embrace their style as opposed to the cookie cutter trends. Vibrant and engaging pieces made of a single piece of fabric evoke a sense of desire.
4. KUR – Launched by Sri Lankan designer Kasuni Rathnasuriya in 2009, KUR is handmade Sri Lankan craft, in particular, Beeralu lace and batik, for modern women who still value their cultural roots.
5. LaPard – Dinushi Pamanuwa’s label LaPard is all about using one of a kind techniques to come up with something fresh and appealing.
6. Papillon du thé – Papillon du thé is designed by Sri Lankan – German gallerist Saskia Fernando. The designer focuses on ethically handcrafted jewellery created by artisans in workshops across Sri Lanka.
7. Touché – If you are looking for something edgy and sexy then this is the label for you. Founded by Heidy Rampinelli and Catherine Obrenovic in 2012 is all about the palette of monochromes and exclusive prints.
