Sri Lanka’s apparel industry made a strong and impactful presence at Source Fashion London 2026, held from 13th to 15th January at Olympia London, United Kingdom, reinforcing the country’s position as a reliable and competitive global sourcing destination.
The Sri Lanka Pavilion, comprising 20 stalls, featured leading apparel manufacturers, including 12 small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). The pavilion was organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom, with the primary objective of identifying new buyers and strengthening Sri Lanka’s apparel exports to the UK market.
This participation carried added significance as Sri Lankan garment exports gained duty free access to the UK market from 1st January 2026. Under the newly liberalized trade framework, Sri Lankan manufacturers are now permitted to source up to 100% of inputs from any country worldwide while continuing to enjoy duty free entry into the UK. The revised rules remove earlier constraints, including the requirement for two substantial manufacturing processes to be carried out locally, thereby enhancing flexibility, competitiveness, and cost efficiency for exporters.
The exhibition was ceremonially inaugurated on 13th January 2026, and a Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held at the Sri Lanka Pavilion together with His Excellency Nimal Senadheera, Sri Lanka High Commissioner, Lord Hannett of Everton, the UKs Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka and Mr Binupa Liyanage, Board Director, EDB together with invitees, Sri Lanka exhibitors, officials of the High Commission and EDB representatives. The Sri Lanka Pavilion showcased exhibitors from the apparel, textile, and accessories sectors, highlighting the country’s diverse manufacturing capabilities and strong adherence to international quality, ethical, and sustainability standards. A stall to promote “Creative Sri Lanka 2030” was also organized at the Sri Lanka Pavilion, providing a dedicated platform to showcase the country’s vibrant creative industry. Five Sri Lankan brands representing the creative sector displayed their products at the exhibition, highlighting Sri Lanka’s innovation, craftsmanship, and design excellence. This initiative helped promote the diversity of Sri Lanka’s export offerings while creating new opportunities for creative industry brands to engage with international buyers and expand their presence in global markets.
A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of Sri Lanka’s National Export Brand, “Your Vital Island,” on the opening day of the exhibition. Built on the core values of sustainability, competence, and authenticity, the brand represents the essence of Sri Lanka’s export offerings. Its launch marked a significant milestone for the national export sector, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative, and ethically produced goods while preserving its unique national identity.
In addition to the main exhibition, several parallel events, including catwalk sessions, panel discussions, and guest speaker forums, added further vibrancy to the platform. Selected products from Sri Lankan companies were featured during the catwalk shows, offering enhanced visibility and deeper engagement with international buyers and fashion industry stakeholders.
Demonstrating Sri Lanka’s readiness to meet the evolving demands of the global apparel industry, Mr. Jeevith Senaratne, Director of Operations at Star Garments (Pvt) Ltd. and Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association, participated as a panelist. Addressing the topic “Intelligent Fashion – Using AI to Design, Plan, and Produce Better,” he highlighted Sri Lanka’s forward-looking approach and growing adoption of advanced technologies in apparel manufacturing.
As the apex organization responsible for export development and promotion, the EDB continues to pursue innovative strategies to enhance Sri Lanka’s presence in global markets. Sri Lanka’s successful participation at Source Fashion London 2026 reflects this ongoing commitment, with a clear focus on expanding apparel exports to the UK by leveraging the benefits of the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) and positioning the country as a sustainable, ethical, and competitive sourcing destination on the global stage.
