HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Summer Edition announced fashion in a new environment in 2021. The theme for this year’s event will be “Circularity in Fashion”.
HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, popularly known as CFW, in its 18th year introduces an important aspect of sustainability, which is an urgent need around the world to make circularity in fashion work. This year, HSBC Colombo Fashion Week will see 21 designers who are set to showcase their collections over a period of three days, from 25 to 27 March 2021.
This year, CFW is themed as the “Week of Circularity”, with aims to propel the fashion design industry of Sri Lanka to transform itself and create fashion products that are relevant in this new environment.
Speaking at the press conference held on 10 March at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, CFW Founder and Managing Director (MD) Ajai Vir Singh commented: “2021 is a year of transformation for fashion, as in 2020, fashion was forced to restructure in every possible way. Post-Covid, the fashion industry is on a new terrain like many other sectors. However, it is also presented with new opportunities.”
He also described that the entire environment and society of fashion have evolved to fit this new reality, and with it, consumption patterns have also drastically changed. He explained that how people view, buy, consume, and relate to fashion is undergoing an enormous shift, adding: “Hyperproduction and fast consumption of fashion has given the industry a bad name as it has eroded the environment and put pressure on society. Hence, the environment to create fashion is very different in 2021.”
In the last two decades, CFW has led the way in South Asia in pushing the boundary and presenting fashion that leads the industry. This year, CFW has been working with fashion designers to align their work within this new environment. Over the past two years, CFW has also trained designers to reframe their perspectives, where they now act as solution providers who design with circularity and safe disposal in mind, so as to minimise the negative impact of the fashion industry.
“The new environment of fashion that 2021 presents is actually good for fashion; there is great awareness of ethical fashion which has been a prime pillar of CFW for many years now. Circularity is far more relevant today and hence, CFW is bringing it into focus with this edition so that there is greater accountability for both fashion creators and fashion consumers,” said Vir Singh, adding that additionally, the Summer 2021 edition of CFW will also focus on weaving crafts among emerging designers to create bigger opportunities.
This year, CFW will follow a strict social distance rule for a limited audience. The shows will also be live streamed online for the local and international audiences.
CFW has maintained emphasis on developing the next generation of Sri Lankan fashion designers since inception, and this consistent focus has resulted in CFW receiving the highest number of applications for its Emerging Designer Programme for the second consecutive year. This is a testimony to the momentum created through the strength of the mentorship and grooming provided by CFW. This year, 11 high-potential young designers have been mentored over a three-month period upon a grant from the sponsors, HSBC bank, and selected to present their collections at the Summer 2021 showcase.
The Responsible Meter
The Responsible Meter, which is a global first, was introduced in 2020 and will move into Phase II. The Responsible Meter is a garment evaluation tool which was introduced last year for CFW.
Circularity 2.0.2.1 is the theme for the fourth edition of the Responsible Fashion Summit. The Responsible Fashion Summit is the thought leadership platform of the Responsible Fashion Movement. This year, post pandemic, the summit will be hosted as a digital conference and consist of three panels.
Commenting on hosting CFW post Covid, Vir Singh said: “I was really happy when the pandemic hit the fashion industry because it needed a lot of refreshing and recalibrating. I think the fashion industries around the world are stuck in the old ways, and it’s difficult for them to move forward into the new era. I want to make use of this opportunity so that designers will be far more relevant.”
This season, HSBC Colombo Fashion Week is pleased to partner with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) in Sri Lanka to raise awareness on the prevalence of violence against women and girls. This partnership fulfils the societal wellbeing aspect of circularity CFW is focusing on.
Commenting on this partnership, UNFPA Representative in Sri Lanka Ritsu Nacken said: “Across the world and in Sri Lanka, UNFPA supports governments and women’s organisations to strengthen their response to violence against women and girls. Contrary to what is often believed, gender-based violence happens everywhere – the rich and the poor alike. We need all segments of society to take action to end violence, and this is where fashion comes in – fashion for a cause. We are pleased to partner with HSBC Colombo Fashion Week to use fashion as a platform to promote a world that is safe for all women and girls.”
On its journey of developing fashion in Sri Lanka, CFW has formed strategic partnerships with Sri Lanka’s leading and like-minded brands. HSBC as the title partner, Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo as the official hospitality partner, TRESemme as the official hair care partner, One Galle Face as a strategic partner to create CFW Retail Week, UNPFA in Sri Lanka as a strategic partner to raise awareness on the issue of violence against women and girls, Vision Care as the official eyewear partner, Ramani Fernando as the official hair and makeup partner, Wijeya Newspapers as the official media partner, Media Factory as the official PR partner, and Emerging Media as the outdoor digital media partner. All of these entities share and extend their support towards the vision and aspirations of CFW.
Website: www.colombofashionweek.com
Instagram: @colombofashionweek
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PHOTOS SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA