House of Indi, in collaboration with Lin Asia Holdings, united under one fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brand; Wear House (WH). WH aims to offer a collection of meticulously selected products home-grown by Sri Lankan designer brands, all under one roof.
Speaking to Managing Director and renowned award-winning fashion designer Indi Yapa at the launch of WH, she explained the inspiration behind the brand. “WH came about with the passion a friend and I had to help emerging brands. We are not only about curating the best of the best, we believe in an equal platform for every person’s dream of having their own business.” So with that in mind, Lin Asia Holdings, a subsidiary of Lanka Sportreizen (LSR), along with House of Indi, wanted to expand in women empowerment, social services, and youth development in Sri Lanka by providing a place to share and showcase their ideas and products with like-minded people.
When taking a stroll around WH, one will notice that almost all the brands featured are run by independent women that have revolutionised the fashion industry. We questioned Yapa on this, asking her if she intends to support female empowerment with WH: “It wasn’t intentional, but I believe women are really changing the game, and I love supporting small businesses succeed, and to give them a platform to showcase their talents. At WH, we have amazing designers who can match with globally recognised fashion designers.”
The assortment at WH will feature top designers and emerging labels, with a fresh collection multiple times per month, and home delivery via the website. The store boasts an elegant and luxurious interior with an artistic ambience, housing on-trend seasonal clothing, décor, beauty must-haves, crafts, accessories, specialty items, and more. WH is home to some iconic local brands, with an emphasis on being sustainable, ethical, and fair trade, hosting brands such as; Colombo Batik, Seth Ceylon, Niera, Taliya, Karma Collection, Gabriella, Alura, Mahi, Wax by Pooja, and Téarapy Ceylon to name a few.
If all this is not exciting enough, WH will also be launching their very own fashion line which will cater to contemporary women with ready-to-wear clothing. The line will consist of the WH-ite Collection, Bo-Ho Collection, and WH Love, with new collections launching every other month.
Brunch had the opportunity to speak to a few designers who were at the launch.
Niera
In simple words, Niera aims to provide all the “shoe-addicted” ladies footwear, which are affordable, elegant, dreamy, and unique to shop anytime they want! We at Niera intend to make the women feel worthy and happy through our cozy and comforting shoes. Our vision is to adorn your lifestyle. Encompassing all things chic, feminine, and on-trend, Niera aims to provide a range of “most-wanted” heels, sandals, platforms, and boots, designed to induce instant style into any of your wardrobe collections.
Téarapy Ceylon
With over 35 years of trading the finest Ceylon teas worldwide, the team at Térapy Ceylon has invested in years of passionate research and testing, to craft a range of truly unique products that deliver unparalleled health benefits to the global tea connoisseur. With a refined and intimate understanding of the nutritional value of tea, we realised the untapped opportunity in combining its potent powers with the ancient remedial science of Ayurveda.
For Millennia, ancient medical practitioners in Sri Lanka have possessed the knowledge to heal ailments with mystical potions made of leaves, roots, herbs, and flowers endemic to the island. To preserve this elusive science of life, Ayurveda was passed down from generation to generation through wisdom carefully etched on to palm leaves.
Today, traditional practitioners from remote villages in Sri Lanka forage its tropical forests daily in search of nutritious herbs native to the local soil, in order to create potions that are known for their curative powers.
WAX by Pooja
WAX by Pooja Atapattu, established in 2018, is an exclusive designer wear collection which focuses on marrying conventional styles, exotic designs, and creating modern silhouettes.
Wax batik is a heritage art of Sri Lanka and is a culmination of beautiful cultural experiences. Over five generations of hands-on experience in the craft of batik, alongside Pooja’s experience in the fashion industry, ultimately led her to create her own brand of batik; WAX.
WAX batik is a resist process for making designs on fabric. Inspired by the traditional Sri Lankan, Indonesian, and African batik, the brand represents a cultural melting-pot of varying styles and craftsmanship.
Embodying the designer’s free spirit, each specialty crafted fabric is hand painted and hand dyed, making each design one-of-a-kind.
Moreover, taking into account the current situation, WH has ensured that Covid-19 health and safety guidelines are followed strictly. Emphasising maximum store capacities, regular and thorough cleaning, and sanitiser stations (including registers and fitting rooms in between each guest), hence, every individual can have the best and safest shopping experience.
Even though they just launched, Yapa’s dreams are endless. In the future, they have plans to make a social route within the area of their store for tourists and locals, calling it “Colombo Design District,” where everyone will gather to enjoy shopping, food, art, and culture; a project under development with the help of the Sri Lankan Government. Overall, WH is much more than just a store, it is a place where people from all walks of life can come together to share their art and where it can finally be appreciated.
You can follow WH on Instagram, Facebook, and visit their physical store, or order online via their website.
