The Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) 2013, backed by local industries and the Sri Lankan Government, kicked off yesterday. The main objective of the festival, which is to promote design driven exports, is supported by Sri Lanka’s apex institute for driving exports, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB).
Together with EDB, SLDF 2013 is held under the theme of South Asia’s Creative Hub, encompassing Sri Lanka moving towards the regional hub status in design. Under this, SLDF will join hands with the EDB to highlight and draw international attention to the major export industries like fashion/apparel manufacturing as well as emerging sectors like contemporary craft.
EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Bandula Egodage stated that the SLDF aligns closely with EDB’s mission; “The EDB is keen to promote the Sri Lankan creative export industries such as apparel and upcoming sectors including contemporary craft, design and associated industries. We find it crucial for our exports to meet the needs of the global market and also to promote their ground-breaking initiatives to the world. We’re proud to recognise our design led industries and be part of establishing Sri Lanka as the South Asia’s Creative hub with SLDF 2013.”
This national design event supported by the EDB will include many industrial forums, sustainable summits, exhibitions and fashion shows. The event will bring global retailers, buyers and sourcing specialists from Europe, North America, Japan etc. visiting as special delegates.
The sustainable fashion summit held yesterday was attended by many international delegates hosted by the EDB who became an active part of discussing sustainability issues pertaining to the South Asian region and will become global ambassadors of Sri Lanka’s leadership towards regional commitment aimed at sustainability, which results in Sri Lanka positioning itself as a hub for sustainable trade and export.
The massive apparel agenda of the festival is also supported by EDB and includes the prestigious South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, where over 200 local and international apparel big names and decision makers will discuss the future of South Asian apparel. With Sri Lanka earning its position as the fashion and apparel hub of the South Asian region and standing strong in its commitment to sustainability, value and invention, the South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum (SAALF) will play the pivotal role in deciding the future of this industry.
The SAALF aims to synthesise the global discourse with the intent of proposing solutions to the most demanding issues faced by the industry. This makes it a unique gathering where obstacles and doubts are discussed alongside strategies, plans and answers by supply chain partners, retailers, brand owners and the services sector engaging on equal terms to find solutions for a common purpose.
The EDB will actively be involved with the event and play a key role in enhancing Sri Lanka’s design led exports while contributing to the SLDF’s mission in creating more business opportunities for local designers. In addition to EDB, the Key stakeholder of SLDF 2013 along with the Government and Sri Lanka Apparel is also supported by many others. SLDF 2013’s principal partner is MAS holdings.
SLDF was founded by AOD International Design Campus. SLDF 2013 is also supported by Coats Thread (Official Thread Partner), GT Nexus (Official Software Partner), Textured Jersey (Contributing Partner), Standard Chartered Bank (Sustainable Fashion Summit Partner), British Council (Knowledge Partner), Mount Lavinia Hotel (Official Host), Cheryl Gooneratne (Official Hair & Makeup), WGSN (International Media Partner), JustStyle, Drapers as well as the partners Goethe Institut, Vista Advertising and Sunshine Travels and tours.
