Life style
Amilani and UNFPA join to fight violence
by Zanita Careem
Partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic, or geographic boundaries and can affect anyone, regardless of their status in society. Fashion has a universal appeal and can be a powerful tool to address and create awareness and empower communities to challenge norms and beliefs that perpetuate violence against women and girls. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Amilani Perera, embarked on a partnership in 2020 to address the issue of violence through the fashion and the apparel industry. Women engage in the apparel industry in all aspects, from designing, producing, modelling and beyond, and we must ensure these women are treated equally in their chosen field of employment Through the partnership with UNFPA, Amilani Perera will engage survivors of violence in product development, while conducting mentoring programmes to enhance their fashion and design skills.
She is a designer who, thinks out of the box and she is noted for her unique collections which are structured with elaborate details. , Amilani’s clothes make a bold statement A familiar face at CFW Amilani has always ensured her collections make a statement. Partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic, or geographic boundaries and can affect anyone, regardless of their status in society. Fashion has a universal appeal and can be a powerful tool to address and create awareness and empower communities to challenge norms and beliefs that perpetuate violence against women and girls. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Amilani Perera, embarked on a partnership in 2020 to address the issue of violence through the fashion and the apparel industry. Women engage in the apparel industry in all aspects, from designing, producing, modelling and beyond, and we must ensure these women are treated equally in their chosen field of employment Through the partnership with UNFPA, Amilani Perera will engage survivors of violence in product development, while conducting mentoring programmes to enhance their fashion and design skills.
Can you trace back your career, and your first public appearance
In terms of public appearance I go back to more than 11 years when I was a first year fashion student at Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore in 2010 and where my work was selected by the Italian brand GAS jeans . It was a great moment in my life and I was the first Sri Lankan to be featured in the prestigious Catalogue the Fashion Magazine in Singapore.
My pubic appearance at the Colombo Fashion Week ,under my brand label AMILANI PERERA and I was featured on Fashion TV as well.
What is your role in UNFPA, and mention the connection between UNFPA and Fashion:?
I introduced a programme with UNFPA Sri Lanka to uplift and empower abused women in Sri Lanka by engaging them in product development and conducting programmes empowering them. Every year, the collection I showcased at the Colombo Fashion Week reflected gender based vio and abuse in Sri anka Violence against women in Sri Lanka has taken a bitter turn and it is common among all communities The proceeds collected were used to provide shelters to the abuse and the needy
HOw you define the corerelation between gender violence and fashion ?
In Sri Lanka, most workers in the garment industry are women. Generally the focus on women is all about beauty and style , but no attention is paid to the gender based violence and this cuts across all communities and all sectors of society, . Fashion is a universal language and can be used to promote unity anf peace..
What is the underlying theme of your collectiom “unbreakable” mean?
The collection UNBREAKABLE was designed to raise awareness on violence against women and girls, which is a pertinent and serious issue among all communities .muslims, Sinhalese and Tamils that run accoss economic, social, or political boundaries.
Working together with our team of skilled artisan craftswomen, ‘UNBREAKABLE’ features Amilani Perera’s very own hand paintings and woven fabrics to help woman in need
The collection is a collaboration that gives voice to all fearless survivors of violence. I’m extremely delighted to announce that my Collection UNBREAKABLE reached many corners of buyers in Tokyo, Japan and will also be retailed at the store 3.T.H.R.E.E.A by August 2021.
Continuing our mission with UNFPA we launched the collection to raise awareness on societal responsibility by protecting survivors of domestic violence. The collection incorporated fabrics weaved by survivors of violence. The proceeds will help to build shelters to many survivors of violence
Say something about your collection,namely haute c outure, street styles and bridal collection?
We create bridal designs not only for Sri Lankan brides. Our brand is exclusively for brides all over the world. The portfolio contains exclusive bridal sarees, traditional Kandyan bridals to bridal gowns. We cater bespoke designs to other occasions as well.
Apart from bridals we have a designer denim casual line exclusively retailed at the Design Collective store.
Your Signature style and style
philosophy?
Style is a story. It portrays you, your personality and your movements and how you enjoy every moment. So, my style differs accordingly.. may it be uplifting the less fortunate or by a helping many others ro make them happy and contented
Your future plans?
Once the prevailing pandemic dies down ,the future plan is to continue showcasing international fashion shows. We have already showcased at the Asian Designer Week and in USA/ the Sri Lanka fashion week in the fashion capital of New York.
I will also continue my work with UNFPA.
Once I make an investment based on the concept of changing people’s lives, it brings inner peace and happiness.
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
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The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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