Virtual Design Festival To Showcase ‘Designed And Made In Sri Lanka’

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The Academy of Design (AOD) has conceptualized SRI LANKA DESIGN FESTIVAL 2021, with the purpose of promoting the country’s ‘designed and made in Sri Lanka’ initiatives through a series of virtual fashion showcases, design exhibitions, forums and workshops that focus on product innovation, sustainable design, art and creative industries, a news release connected with the event said.

The Sri Lanka Design Festival 2021 will be held virtually for the first-time, on Jan. 15, 16 and 17, 2021. It will showcase to a global audience through various collaborations and international partnerships, the organizers said.

“Under the theme ‘impACT’, the Virtual Festival will showcase fashion and design initiatives that motivate the industry to ACT now and create a positive impact, in a meaningful way whilst bringing in much-needed new exports through design driven innovation,” the release said.

“Since its inception in 2009, this will mark the 10th Sri Lanka Design Festival, held at a significant time, celebrating fashion, architecture, tourism and design technology bringing together all connected industries. The three-full day Virtual Festival will include over 40 different segments and showcase over 50 different eminent personalities comprising designers, design led industries, craft and the SME sector makers, artists, young entrepreneurs, speakers, celebrities and like-minded enthusiasts.”

Amongst many exciting segments and speakers, Anoma Wijewardane a globally renowned Sri Lankan artist will be featured as the Artist Spotlight of SLDF 2021 showcasing some of her exclusive work on ‘Art captivating transformation, inclusivity-diversity unity and climate change’.

Another highlight segment will be the Keynote Speech by H.E Tshering Tobgay, former Prime Minister of Bhutan, on the topic of ‘Only carbon neutral country in the world’ as he will share insights on the harmony between sustainability and economics reflecting on Bhutan’s success in this front.

A partnership with the Ministry of International Relations will ensure all missions abroad and diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka, help promote engagement and connections that will lead to meaningful commercial collaborations for the country through the post festival period, the organizers said.

“The virtual Sri Lanka Design Festival 2021 is produced by the country’s leading catalyst for design and innovation – Academy of Design (AOD) – in partnership with government, private and international entities, to be unveiled soon. Sri Lanka Design Festival 2021 will present a fascinating insight to how Sri Lankan creativity adapts to working in an insular world and the impact creativity, design and innovation can have on healing and recovery,” the release added.

Dr. (Hon DCL) Linda Speldewinde, Founder of Sri Lanka Design Festival and Chairperson of Academy of Design commented “We are excited to bring this to you in a new way and at a much-needed time for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Design Festival 2021 – reveals the first-ever virtual Festival that will innovatively showcase the initiatives, transforming the fashion and design tech industry. In the last decade,

“AOD has shaped the lives of many young creative people helping them to become young entrepreneurs and designers of today. Furthermore, Sri Lanka Design Festival has been a window to contribute to the fashion, tourism and design-tech industry as a whole and we are proud to collaborate with inspirational and like-minded businesses to elevate the industry as a whole and host the milestone event that would definitely recognize Sri Lankan Design, Craft, Fashion, Creative industries and Technology via the nation’s renowned change-makers at an international level”

The Festival will be open to the public for free and requires only prior online registration for joining. For more information regarding the event and online registrations please visit www.srilankadesignfestival.lk