- Find comfort, find freedom; slip into the world of Alai
Alai – Edition One was exclusively launched at The Design Collective recently. Created by Fusion 14 and designed exclusively by Saarah Deen Ismail, each piece is handmade and intricately crafted, and employs traditional techniques to elevate contemporary expressions of fabric design.
Saarah is a business entrepreneur in the beauty and textile and garment-manufacturing industries. In conversation with Brunch on how she found her passion for designing, she told us that she has been drawn to textile design and manufacturing garments from the age of 15 and so can safely say that fashion has been her calling from a very young age. She has a keen eye for textile print and has been the driving force behind the creation of one-a-kind pieces for Fusion 14, founded in 2004.
Going into detail on how Alai came to be, she took us through the backstory of Fusion 14, which was created as a small, family-owned boutique which started as a retail store offering hand-picked treasures from different parts of the world, curated under one roof. Today, the brand has evolved into a contemporary lifestyle label and store that designs unique pieces of clothing and accessories. From classic and fine cuts, to ethnic resort-wear, batik, and tie-dyes – Fusion 14 has grown into one of Colombo’s leading homegrown retail brands.
When talking further about Alai, she informed us that this lifestyle label was inspired by our very own pearl-drop isle and embodies freedom and comfort. Alai is a sister-brand of Fusion 14 through which Saarah wanted to challenge herself by doing an exclusive resort/lounge-wear collection inspired by island-living. In doing this she also wanted to use a unique dyeing technique which produces a completely different finished look.
When asked about items she specialises in, she told us that the store retails womenswear, primarily batik garments and imported festive fabrics sourced from India that are designed in-house to create individual pieces for the discerning customer. Giving us some insight on what the final designs look like, she commented: “Our silhouettes are simple, timeless, and comfortable. The perfect piece for any look, be it night or day.”
Alai – Edition One consists of silhouettes shaped from blended silk (cotton), tie-dyed to achieve unique colour-ways.She shared that what makes Alai stand out from other designer labels is that the clothes are intricately designed and seamlessly sewn. “My clothing speaks for itself and I work very closely with the customer who needs to both look and feel her best while wearing my brand; so we create a limited quantity of each style and craft custom-made orders on request,” she commented.
All the garments and textiles are designed and manufactured in their own workshop in the city and the fabrics utilised for batik are sourced through vendors reselling excess waste fabrics from the garment industry sector in order to maintain best sustainable practices.
Sharing a behind-the-scenes look into the manufacturing process, she stated: “The process is extensive as it requires preparation and planning. I attribute the final product to a hardworking team that makes my vision a reality!”
Having done an extensive training in sustainable textile printing in Rajasthan, India, Saarah has created her own contemporary twist to traditional batik and recently expanded into interior finishing, ceramics, and art. On the topic, we questioned her on how important it is for fashion brands to be sustainable, to which she explained that for the sake of longevity of the brand and our environment, sustainable best practices will help a brand in the long run.
Her next collection, which she will be showcasing mid-March, is what she is working on currently, and promises more unique designs to come.