Local and interna-tional models walked the ramp

displaying a variety of designs by renowned and upcoming design-ers at the Sri Lanka Design Festival fashion shows which were held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel last week. The event was presented by the Academy of Design (AOD) and spearheaded by AOD founder Linda Speldewinde. Photog-rapher Sulochana Gamage captured these models on the runway.

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on show

Crafts and designs

RUWINI JAYAWARDANA

Are you ready to slip into something more comforta-ble which fits you like a

glove? MAS Holdings, South Asia’s largest intimate apparel exporter and manufacturer, has come up with a brand of lingerie which celebrates your confidence and understands your body like you do.

MAS unveiled amanté in Sri Lanka last month as the island’s first 100 percent homegrown intimate wear brand. Powered by inspiration from across the world the brand has been developed to suit the require-ments of South Asian women, to suite their body structure, expecta-tions and needs.

Wandering around the spacious factory outlet located in Panadura the first thing that strikes you is the energetic atmosphere of the employ-ees. Their nimble fingers works magic with the clothes and thread as they stitch simple garments into delicate and silky lingerie.

With the inception of its first plant in 1986, MAS Holdings has evolved through the years to cater garments to some of the most renowned brands in the world. The amanté factory itself dishes over nine million bras per day.

“A design with a lot of embellish-ments takes more time to be manu-factured. Each garment goes trough a vigorous inspection before it is sent for packing. Our employees work as a team. We have around 150 machinists working on the products while 450 to 500 fashion exacting lingerie and 500 to 600 essential styles are available throughout the year,” MAS Brands Business Man-ager Binara Seneviratne said. He also added that they use the latest technological devices in the world to develop the garments.

Speaking to the media MAS Holdings and amanté Director Ajay Amalean noted that the lunch of the brand is a milestone in MAS Hold-ings’ history.

“The brand reflects our expertise and experience in the industry. Our aim is to send high end quality prod-ucts into the market as fast as pos-

sible,” he said adding that the brand is currently the number one lingerie brand in the market in India. The product made its appearance in the Indian market five years ago. Since then the brand has not only won over the masses but it has also been recognized as the Product of the Year in the intimate-wear category by the Indian consumer, the largest independent survey facilitated by AC Nielsons in 2010.

Amalean also notes that manufac-turers rarely use the expertise to cater to their own people, as their focus is more on producing items for international brands and specifi-cations.

“We were able to make a differ-ence by using our knowledge and capabilities to cater to the women of South Asia. amanté is for the mod-ern woman who is confident, wants to look good and feel good about themselves. It is a luxury that our

w o m e n deserve,” he said.

S p e a k i n g about the title of the brand MAS Design Account Manager Rajeev G a n a p a t h y added that the name derives from a Spanish term meaning ‘The Lover’.

“All the laying, cutting, moulding and sewing is done under one roof. We try to stick to using raw material found within the region. Indian and Sri Lankan women prefer darker shades,” he said.

amanté products come in a varie-ty of ranges from comfort wear, to sportswear and luxurious lacy and frilly designs. They cater to women between 21 to 45 years. The bras come in three general categories: bullet (general), tear drop (slightly shaped) and sharp tear drop (point-

ed and shaped). A specialty about their products is that the cups com-prise 2mm thin, light pads. The panties too are designed in a man-ner so that no panty line is visible through the outer clothing. They will be coming up with their sleep-wear range in the future. amanté’s 125th global outlet was opened in Sri Lanka, partnering with glitz. The event also coincided with MAS Holdings’ 25th anniversary of man-ufacturing excellence and amanté’s fifth anniversary. The team has plans to open their own independ-ent retail store too.

Prenita Fashions once again prepares to dazzle its clients with

an exceptional and enter-taining experience this fes-tive season. When East Meets West will be a one of a kind musical fashion show that will showcase a unique range of both eastern as well as western attire reflecting latest designs.

The roof top terrace at the pioneering Indian saree store in Colombo will be alive with glamour and music as six fantastic seg-ments of western attire including jeans, leggings and elegant and stylish fig-ure hugging dresses along with six segments of east-ern attire including sarees and kurta tops will be brought to the catwalk by leading models. The fash-

ions will feature both day and evening wear collec-tions in a variety of attrac-tive hues and designs fit for all occasions. Maliban Bis-cuit Manufactories (Pvt) Ltd Chairman A G Ratna-pala Samaraweera,will be the chief guest at this event.

Get the opportunity to witness this exclusive fash-ion show and enjoy the after-party with dinner, DJ music and dancing.

“This will be a colourful extravaganza filled with fun and glamour and is some-thing that many have been looking forward to. It will unfold as a memorable evening of fashion, music fun and dancing giving us the opportunity to get together and enjoy,” stated Prenita Fashions Managing Director Priyanthi Fernan-

do. When East Meets West musical fashion show will be held on December 7 amidst an eminent gather-ing at the roof top terrace of Prenita Fashions, Colombo 7.

When East Meets West

After the success of My Wedding 2012 Bridal Fair, once again Sri Lanka’s biggest Bridal Exhibition, Vivaha 2012, presented by CEC Events (Pvt) Ltd to be held from November 23 to 25 November 2012, for the ninth consecutive year. The event will take place at the elegant venue of the BMICH. This year’s exhibition which is bigger and more exciting than ever before would include more modern and inven-tive features and to gain the maximum mileage.

Vivaha 2012 comprises everything from on trend bridal dress designers, jewellers, photographers, flower decorators, salons, beauty therapists, cake decorators, caterers, gift items, beauty salon prod-ucts, health products, cosmetics, printers, hotels and right through to traditional design classics. It’s all there for viewers all under one roof.

Sirasa TV is the official print media partner for the event while the official Print Media part-ner is the Daily News. Vivaha 2011 attracted over 12,000 visitors and 95 percent of whom are who are planning to get married last year and this year. The team is expecting a more visitors turn out for Vivaha 2012 Bridal Fair.

Vivaha unfurls today

Sewing success with intimate wear

MAS Holdings and amanté Director Ajay Amalean, MAS Design Account Manager Rajeev Ganapathy, MAS Brands Business Manager Binara Seneviratne, Market-ing Consultant Tusitha Kumarakulasingam, and MAS Brands Marketing Executive Chamari Gonsalkorala

Priyanthi Fernando

amanté factory