With a focus on Luxury Resortwear

‘Environment is Luxury’ is the theme of this edition planned for 12th and 13th November

Colombo, Sri Lanka (October 26, 2021): CFW presents Olu Swim Week, with a special focus on Luxury Resortwear. The event is scheduled for the 12th and the 13th of November 2021. In accordance with the current restrictions, it will be a hybrid event with the shows being telecast live and a limited number of guests attending. The shows are hosted by the partner hotel – Shangri La Hotel.
This edition of Olu Swim Week focuses on Luxury Resortwear with emphasis on the festive season of December and destination weddings. The current ‘New Normal’ presents an interesting scenario for fashion designers, where aspects of sustainability play an important role alongside providing the design solution a fashion consumer expects.

Over the last year or so, fashion took a massive hit, as it is an SME industry in the region and the ecosystem it supports also faced negative impact. With this edition of Swim Week, the team at CFW also aims to uplift and revive this creative industry and its ecosystem.
“These are interesting and challenging times for any industry, especially so for fashion and apparel when most of the design focus was on occasion wear. Lockdowns robbed that focus, hence a lot of adjusting had to be done,” says Ajai Vir Singh, Founder and Managing Director, CFW. “Designers have to study the new environment to create new design solutions in the ‘New Normal’. This season is the second one within this environment and CFW remains committed to mentoring, fine-tuning and uplifting with a key focus on sustainable aspects specially Circularity. The ‘New Normal’ has challenges but it also presents new opportunities and this Swim Week aims to bring a shift in the mindset and responsible positivity into society.”

This is CFW’s 18th year and, since inception, it’s remained single-minded about promoting and expanding the fashion design industry of Sri Lanka while anchoring on sustainable practices which keeps evolving. Close to 85% of designers in Sri Lanka have come through the CFW design system.

This year, CFW presents a uniquely formatted Swim Week edition, with an interesting setting and presentations. The week of 8th Nov will also see the 6th edition of the Responsible Fashion Summit presented by JAAF Sri Lanka Apparel at the Shangri La Hotel. It’s a single day hybrid thought leadership forum that brings together international and local apparel leaders and experts for discussion. In 2020, the Responsible Fashion Movement worked with CFW to create a garment evaluation tool called Responsible Meter, where every garment presented had a responsible score.

Important Sri Lankan designers will showcase at the Luxury Resortwear edition, including Darshi Keertisena, Charini Suriyage, Fouzul Hameed, Indi Yapa Abeywardena, Aslam Hussain, Dinushi Pamunuwa, and others too.
CFW is proud to have long-standing partners. Olu tropical water with a strong sustainability value system is the title partner; it has been the same since the inception of Swim Week edition of CFW. Olu is the first brand that put the
environment first and moved to glass bottles and also to sparkling water. “Being a part of the CFW journey for 6 years now, is a testament to how well brands that think alike and have common goals can work together to drive positive change. Over the years, CFW and OLU have grown together while striving towards achieving true circularity in our respective industries. We’re honored to have had this platform to stand as a source of inspiration for consumers and brands alike.” stated Shalindri Malawana, General Manager, Liquid Island (Pvt) Ltd
Shangri-La Hotel Colombo has also been a partner of Swim Week Colombo since its inception, they have stood from strong sustainable principles immersed in design outlook making them connect with design platforms. “As we partner with Colombo Fashion Week for the 4thconsecutive year we continue to be inspired by how our values grow together. Through the many challenges the world has faced in recent months, we have sought to be more imaginative in our offerings as we host our guests to the colourful moments of joy in a sustainable manner”, said Timothy Wright, Vice President Operations – Sri Lanka, Shangri-La Group. “As Sri Lanka gradually opens up to the world again, we are also enthusiastic that CFW Luxury Resortwear is using this rich platform to showcase the work of our talented designers for destination weddings”.

Nations Trust Bank is CFW’s official banking partner. It is one of the fastest-growing banks in Sri Lanka today. As a truly customer-centric financial institution, Nations Trust Bank provides tailored services for contemporary lifestyles. “With the economy reopening from several lockdowns and the community adjusting to the new age of living, Nations Trust Bank American Express is gratified to announce another year of partnership with the coveted Swim Week Colombo, focused on uplifting the local fashion landscape. This year, in particular to support businesses and the economy to revive through post pandemic challenges. We hope that this event will help strengthen sustainable development in the local fashion industry, boost the dynamic route of local designers and thereby, open new opportunities for Sri Lanka as a progressive fashion destination,” stated Priyantha Talwatte, Chief Executive Officer & Director at Nations Trust Bank.
Ramani Fernando Salons is Sri Lanka’s largest and leading hair & beauty brand, with over 40 years of experience in the industry. Ramani Fernando has been the Official Hair and Make-Up Partner for Colombo Fashion Week since 2003, they continue to support CFW with its growth.
Vision Care is the Official Eyewear Partner for Colombo Fashion Week and has been so for the last five years. In its role as the leading eye care brand in the country with over 55 branches located island wide, Vision Care is unwavering in its commitment to driving the sector to achieve greater heights.
Emerging Media, a market leader in location based indoor and outdoor advertising, and our Outdoor Digital Media Partner. Mediafactory commenced business in June 2005 and was an instant game changer for the Industry, and has continued to do so, and is our Media Partner.
CFW, a developmental platform started in 2003, in a systematic manner, created formats that demand transformation across the key pillars that would define a fashion industry. CFW’s mission is to establish, develop and maintain an efficient fashion eco-system that incubates the best of Sri Lankan fashion design. The various companies of CFW focus on different aspects of fashion, from fashion week platforms, creative events, media, sustainable fashion, education-based programs, and fashion brands.