"SILK AND SPICE" FUNDRAISER IN LONDON

A scintillating opening routine performed by "Bollywood Grooves", a dance group of three young girls, set the tone of Silk and Spice, the fashion show recently held in London to raise funds for Educate A Child Trust. Both Hi Magazine of Sri Lanka and the Sunday Times Sri Lanka provided extensive coverage of the event.

Silk and Spice showcased the largest number of Sri Lankan designers ever brought together in London. Most of the clothes were specially flown from Sri Lanka, and highlighted the wide spectrum of talent there. The show and the music were organized by Dr. Tara Coomaraswamy, an EACT Trustee in the UK. The London College of Fashions provided the choreography, and Brandix Limited, one of Sri Lanka's largest apparel exporters, was the major sponsor. All twenty models were volunteers.

Silk and Spice was presented in three parts. The first, Cultural Diversity, was a panorama of traditional and modern costumes worn in Sri Lanka. The second, entitled The Next Generation, featured creations by young design graduates of the University of Moratuwa.

The third part, The Contemporary Scene, gave the mixed Sri Lankan/British audience a flavour of the thriving fashion industry in Sri Lanka. It featured eighteen designers, ranging from 17-year-old Nishika Samaratunga to the veteran Kirthi Sri Karunaratne. Nishika flew out to London for the event, as did Sonali Dharmawardhana, whose brand, Akusala Batiks, is becoming known for brilliantly coloured designer saris.

Over 200 people attended Silk and Spice, contributing approximately £12,000. In addition to Dr. Coomaraswamy, EACT representatives included its founder, Dr. Pramilla Senanayake, and Mr. S.K. Wickremasinghe, current Trustee and former Sri Lanka High Commissioner.

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