GWG Action

Sri Lanka’s multi-billion dollar fashion manufacturing industry, known to be the largest export revenue maker for the island, is world-renowned for its ethically fortified and environmentally conscious practices. This remarkable industry is also rapidly expanding its strength in design and creative led development.

Board of Investment acting Chairman and a member of the Apparel Association Channa Palansooriya said that the internal conflicts in Bangladesh has increased the demand for Sri Lankan apparels, but the local industry was facing a severe shortage of workers.

Fashion designer Lonali Rodrigo is buzzing with energy and in the midst of completing too many tasks at the Academy of Design (AOD International Design Campus). As a finalist in last year’s Venture Engine competition for emerging entrepreneurs, Lonali was able to establish her own label – Lonali – with the sponsoring and mentoring she received. Today, she works out of a small office at her alma mater, made possible by the institute’s Centre for Creative Entrepreneurs, which provides Lonali and two other designers the space to run their businesses.

“With more and more industries in Sri Lanka, recognizing the value added by design to industries, ‘design’ is certainly becoming the most talked about value addition for new businesses or for the enhancement of a current one to a new league” says award winning

Sri Lanka's Brandix, an apparel export group has appointed Priyan Fernando, a New York based banker working for American Express as its chairman. Fernando had previously been a non-executive director.

Polytex Garments Ltd., a part of the global apparel giant the Esquel Group, has been an integral part of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry for the last 36 years, and continues to grow from strength to strength.