The 2010 Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) will be held this year from the 11th-17th November 2010 in Colombo. This event will showcase the best of Sri Lankan design and ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices on a global platform.
Renowned global opinion leaders and leading edge authorities on sustainable fashion will participate in an international gathering for the Ethical Fashion Symposium& on 12th November. The symposium is one of the main highlights of SLDF 2010. Experts from all over the world will come together to focus on practical solutions for manufacturing, buying and sourcing and ethics. The event will be chaired by legendary fashion writer, journalist, critic, and Brand Ambassador of SLDF, Colin McDowell.
This has been structured to provide an ideal platform to not only debate issues and roadblocks but also to discuss solutions for sourcing and manufacturing of sustainable apparel. Programme highlights include:
- A presentation on the Evolution of Sustainable Apparel Business: From Codes of Conduct to Partnership, an analysis of early and emerging innovative approaches to social responsibility in apparel brands by Prof Suzanne Loker of Cornell University
- Discussions focussing on transparency and trust-responding to consumer demand for visibility in the supply chain, legislation and education, and responsible reporting. All discussions will be moderated by Colin McDowell
Other key personalities and industry figures participating in this event will include Paschal Little of M&S; Elizabeth Laskar who is globally renowned for her work in ethical fashion in the UK; Orsola de Castro, the co-founder and curator of Esthetica – London Fashion Week; Clare Hamer sustainable sourcing specialist from the UK; Bruce Montgomery, a popular menswear consultant and designer operating in London and Italy; Mahesh Amalean of MAS and Kumar Mirchandani to name a few.
Linda Speldewinde, Managing Director of the Academy of Design (AOD) and Founder of SLDF, elaborates, “This event brings great value to the local apparel industry and aids in developing our national economy by placing the Sri Lankan apparel industry as the leader of ethical design and fashion manufacturing practices. This corresponds to the global fashion movement towards sustainability and ethical practices, where consumers are no longer ignorant about the origins of what they wear, and retailers, designers and manufacturers possess the insight and knowledge to answer this need.”
SLDF 2010, in partnership with the Export Development Board (EDB) will bring together leading international and local experts in key design sectors encompassing fashion, jewellery, graphic design and advertising, craft, product design and interior design and architecture. This event will consist of a week-long programme where workshops, panel discussions, fashion shows, presentations, seminars, and demonstrations will engage visitors as well as retailers, design enthusiasts and experts in the relevant design sectors.
