Proud to be Sri Lankan at IIFA Fashion Rocks

The most dazzling, mega Indian Cinema event – the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) will blast off tomorrow at the BMICH with an elegant exclusive enviable fashion extravaganza, IIFA Fashion Rocks.

The Director IIFA and of this aesthetic and eye catching event is Sabaas Joseph who describes tomorrow’s event as “Bigger than Live” considered as Sri Lanka’s biggest PR event, IIFA Fashion Rocks will be a trail blazer event some of the best names in Bollywood industry and Sri Lanka’s taking to the catwalk to life and rhythmic musical accompaniment and stage performances of duo Saleem – Sulaiman, Anushka Manchanda, Bus, Nadro ect while idols of Indian fashion scene Vivek Oberoi, and Dia Mirza host the extravaganza, Indian designers Manish Malhothra, Vicram Phandis, Lankan designers Yolanda Aluvihare of Yoland Collections and K T Brown will put up their best for Sri Lanka. Indian model Anil Kapoor will be his normal best in typical Indian Fashion accompanying the artists.

Manish Malholthra’s collections is set to incorporate those traditional styles of the Mugal Period that spell bound the world, as those of Rajasthan in Joda- Akbar while Vicram Phandis collection would bring to the stage those from the like of Indian Films, popular, breath taking and timeless. They have expressed their excitement and delight in participating in the IIFA Fashion dream.

The Indian “Lamhaa” directed by Rahul Dholakia with the cast including Sunjey Dutt, Anupam Kher, Kunal Kapoor and vivacious Bipasha Basu besides our Indian neighbours Sri Lanka beautify Queen Jacqueline Ferdinandez, ace cricketer Kumar Sangakkara will participate.

Sri Lanka’s elegant designer Yolanda Aluvihare will bring on the stage the traditional styles and symbols of Sri Lanka together with K T brown with her own creations. Her present collection has dip-dyed, uncut garments inspired by ethnic costumes. Brown experiments with new designs and styles and considers the arena as limitless.

Giving an exclusive interview to Lankapuvath, Sri Lanka’s Fashion Designer of international fame Yolanda Aluvihare said that the IIFA Fashion show is a Golden opportunity for her to showpiece Sri Lankan fashion ware with a distinct Sri Lankan identity and heritage.

Yolanda was selected by Indians as her fashion wear had been quite popular in Delhi, Lahore, Chennai besides in other western countries.

Yolanda’s collection is based on three essential and traditional basic of our symbols of heritage Sri Lankan Masks, found nowhere else in the world, Sri Lankan flowers rare rapturous and natural, the Lotuses, Olu, and Temple Flowers and the most wonderful symbol of our environment, the proud peacock.

She would concentrate on Sri Lankan handlooms, hand woven rich materials of vibrant colours as the golden yellow to bring out the traditional motifs.

Rich silks of sunny colours all hand painted and worked to glamour with national flowers and Batik designs, the traditional Kandyan Saree with the Majestic and proud peacock in plumage, the Indian saree in delicate drape, the kaftan, and Indo-western glamour in the back drop of traditional designs would steal the show. Sri Lankan models would parade to the deep beat of the oriental drums by Indian drummers.

Sri Lanka will model 12 of the 30 outfits lined up for IIFA Fashion show tomorrow while our Indian counterparts will no doubt prove themselves tomorrow under the dazzling lights.

The Sri Lankan idols of the Bollywood screen have already started arriving in Sri Lanka for the breathtaking event where so many have contributed to the setting up of the stage, fitting of the lights, drawing of the curtains for the gala opening tomorrow 03rd June at the BMICH.

Good Luck Sri Lanka and India for a show not to be outdone. (N S Ratnapala

Lankapuvath Ltd)