Spring 2025 Yoland collection is modelled by Ushani Wijeratne.

By Zanita Careem

Yoland Aluvihare is a legend and an icon in local batik landscape. Her unique rise to fame is indeed a truly amazing journey.! An astute and determined businesswoman, she designs to empower women,making them enchance the features of the wearer but never outshine them.

A household name in Sri Lanka, Yoland’s reputation has always crossed the seas and was invited by fashion fairs all over the globe to showcase her unique form of art and design. The business spirit in her saw the opening of her own retail outlet called the Yoland Collection which became the number one boutique store in Sri Lanka. “I always believe to be truly unique and create something special , I follow my own instincts and create something I love and are proud of”says Yoland. Her label Yoland collection covers the full spectrum of fashion from silk sarees, kaftans, scarves, dresses and neckties which never fails to attract customers. Yoland’s designs reflect those values in a contemporary style, something that we could wear always,appreciate,and stands the test of time.

Her signature style is immediately recognisable and sets her apart from others.

I am also committed to |Made in Sri Lanka” adage and her mission is to re -invigorate domestic manufacturing and create an offering of distinguished silhouettes for the women who values quality and local craftsmanship.Her clientele is impressive and boasts of socialites and the glitterati not only from Sri Lanka but also from abroad. Her collections have graced fashion runways in Italy, Germany, Pakistan, Australia, France, Switzerland, Singapore and Japan amongst many more.

For her efforts she was been rewarded with several accolades both locally and internationally. At the Fashion Asia Awards in China a few years she won ‘Asia’s Top Fashionable Selling Brand of the Year’ and more recently won the Commonwealth Women Entrepreneur of the Year Her journey is a testament to her ambition, creativity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Her elegance and persona I guess pushed her own cloth line.

She was always blessed with the intuition to know what women wanted to wear at a particular moment in their lives but also what women wanted to wear to make an impact. From colourful tradional pieces to contemporary fashion , her silhouettes reflect vibrant colours, and rich cultural heritage.

Yoland’s daughter Nisa Aluwihara has taken her over the mantle of her mother’s business.. Nisa,versatile and innovative has taken “The brand ‘Yoland Collection’ to the international design world. Nisa has been inspired by her mother’s creativity. “The entrepreneurial spirit in me was inherited from my mother ” says Nisa. Embracing the multi faceted exposure during her childhood, Nisa lends her intrinsic love for batiks and fashion into thier homegrown business with passion. Ushani Wijeratne Rambukwella, an expert in IT business science and environmental studies has now joined Yoland to pursue her passion in designing. Poised, confident and with a strong of sense of style, beautiful Ushani said, I’m really excited to be part of Yoland Collection. She is ready to step inside the fabulous world of Yoland’s batik world .