4th Edition of Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) to be launched in London
The 4th Edition of Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF), to be held in Colombo (Sri Lanka) in November 2012, will have its international launch at a prestigious event, to be held in London (UK) on the 25th of June 2012.
SLDF is an international celebration of uniquely Sri Lankan design and creativity and will bring together a range of exciting events that showcase Sri Lanka’s vibrant creative industries, with a focus on its world-renowned apparel industry. SLDF also showcases Sri Lanka’s rich heritage, through a focus on the Craft industry.
The key objective of Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) is to create a global platform for all creative and design industries in Sri Lanka, highlighting key areas such as the fashion and apparel industries, the advertising and visual communication industries and the architecture industry. It also aims to position Sri Lanka as the world’s leading ethical apparel sourcing destination, through showcasing the Sri Lankan apparel industry’s commitment to holistic sustainability.
Every year, SLDF engages a wide audience of international and local experts from all of the above-mentioned fields, connecting designers, buyers, suppliers, manufacturers, opinion leaders and educationalists, among other leading personalities. In order to obtain this international involvement, SLDF plans an international launch in the world’s global creative hub – London, UK. This event will position SLDF and its key partners alongside global creative industries and international partners. .
SLDF’s International Launch in London will be an Invitees Only event, and will cater exclusively to high-end retailers, designers, buyers, opinion leaders and personalities from the international fashion and apparel world, the international design industries, and international media along with key figures from the Sri Lankan apparel industry, The Sri Lanka Board of Tourism and SLDF’s other key partners.
The Launch event will also showcase Sri Lanka as the ‘LAND OF POSSIBILITIES’, through a presentation of the island’s traditional craft heritage, vibrant culture and business opportunities available at SLDF and Sri Lanka. This will include a spectacular cultural display and a craft heritage show.
At SLDF in November, international delegates can visit a variety of world-class apparel manufacturing facilities (many working with leading brands across the sector) as part of their tailor made itineraries. These itineraries will also include one-on-one meetings with pre-matched factories and manufacturers so that they have the chance to learn about potential sourcing opportunities in Sri Lanka. During the visit, delegates will have the opportunity to visit a number of ‘eco’ factories and hear about the initiatives that are taking place across the industry and why Sri Lanka is known as the global leader in sustainable business models.
There will also be the opportunity to participate in the South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, and the seminal ‘Ethical Fashion Symposium’, a high profile international gathering on sustainable fashion that is held during the Festival.
Whilst the Festival has a strong business to business focus, it is structured as both a cultural and a commercial event and therefore has a stimulating program in store for everyone attending. This years’ programme will also place a special focus on the topic of Sustainability and traditional Sri Lankan arts and crafts. The Festival promises to be both inspiring and unique.
The Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) creates opportunities and opens doors for business with Sri Lanka and the UK. SLDF invites the UK apparel industry and fashion businesses to come to Sri Lanka and experience all the opportunities presented by SLDF in November 2012.
