Colombo Fashion Week

Colombo Fashion Week was conceived in 2003, as a project that was focused on uplifting Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry. Today it is firmly established as the backbone of Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry and in its journey of over a decade it has taken Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry from strength to strength. CFW as its popularly known is probably one of 3 fashion weeks in Asia that is over ten years. It is developmental in its nature, which covers every aspect of a fashion design industry from grooming young designer at college level, to guiding senior and established designers through commercial opportunities.

CFW showcases two seasons – Spring Summer (February-March) and Resort annually (September-October). Currently CFW also serves as a hub for South Asian fashion. Where designers from neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and India regularly show.

In 2013, CFW started a partnership with National Craft Council of Sri Lanka to create a program to empower craftsmen to come into fashion mainstream by exposing them to selected fashion designers and international crafts experts. This program is already evolving into something significant and impacting craftsmen in Sri Lanka. In addition to above 2013 also saw the introduction CFWs related sub-brands like Fashion + Food series, Crafts in Fashion series, CFWCURATES.COM, an online retail platform for participating designers.

Every year CFW gives three important awards – Lifetime Achievement Award, Gen-Next award and the Face of CFW award to deserving individuals. CFW is an all year around initiative with ongoing projects like ‘CFW Day’ at university campuses where it empowers final year design students.

To celebrate its 10th year, CFW introduced BRIGHTSPARK shows to create a platform to showcase the high potential young talent of Sri Lanka. These shows happen just before CFW twice a year.