Sri Lankan Fashion Designer, AOD Alumni Amesh Wijesekera Shortlisted For London's Fashion Scout
AOD is proud to announce, its Fashion Prodigy, Amesh Wijesekara backed to shine as Sri Lanka’s international fashion star, being shortlisetd for Fashion Scout in London where Amesh has been based for the last year, since winning Graduate Fashion Week Londons International catwalk competition last year, competing against some of the biggest fashion schools from Paris, Milan and New York.
Being shortlisted for FASHION SCOUT is recognition of Amesh’s exceptional talent. Fashion Scout is an International Showcase for Fashion Pioneers. It is the UK’s largest independent showcase for Emerging and Established design talent during London Fashion Week. Headed up by Founder and Creative Director Martyn Roberts, Fashion Scout is renowned for championing, nurturing and showcasing creative design talent in London and Kiev. Having built an acclaimed reputation as a leading International Fashion showcase, Fashion Scout is frequented by Top media and buyers including Anna Wintour, Hilary Alexander, Sara Maino, Suzy Menkes, Lucinda Chambers and Sarah Mower as well as Globally recognized Fashion personalities such as Kate Moss, David Gandy and Henry Holland.
Fashion Scout is responsible for the launch of a whole generation of talented designers including Peter Pilotto, Felder Felder, David Koma, William tempest, Eudon Choi, Pam Hogg, Fyodor Golan, Craig Lawrence, Baartman’s and Seigel, AGI & Sam and most recently phoebe English, Xiao Li, Gyo Yuni Kimchoe and Roberts wood. Alongside the brightest British Talent, Fashion Scout provides unrivalled platforms for Industry selected International Designers and Collective showcases including those from China, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia
Having completed his education at St. Thomas’s college Mount Lavinia, he joined AOD to pursue his higher education in BA (Hons) Fashion and textile design. Amesh believes boundaries are for the conventional; his designs break them down and open up new possibilities in his style of fashion. Textiles play a huge role in Amesh’s designs; he combines traditional crafting techniques with modern day technology such as digital painting. This creates new textures and surfaces that allow him to experiment and infuse different patterns and fabrics into his designs. That results in truly spectacular works of art.
Amesh Wijesekera was first brought into limelight by AOD for his remarkable work that won him recognition at Mercedes Benz Fashion Awards last year. Following this, AOD’s international fashion academics nominated him for the Graduate Fashion Week UK. Amesh is now shortlisted for London’s Fashion Scout. He believes boundaries are for the conventional; his designs break them down and open up new possibilities in his style of fashion. Amesh look at design with no limitations, Clothing with no gender conformity, giving the wearer a new definition. Definition of being undefined, by making the wearer unique, sophisticated, strong and independent. As he develop his thought process and narrative, he explores bold exaggerated shapes and forms with sophisticated innovative 3-dimensional textile combinations and detail.
Founder of AOD, Linda Speldewinde shared her thoughts , ‘ We need an international Star from Sri Lanka to bring a voice to what we are creating here and Amesh’s win last year has given us that and now even when the graduate showcase in London is discussed, you hear Sri Lankas name come mentioned, which feel like a great start. I truly believe that Amesh has great potential to be backed to make a name and for us be AOD’s first true international name in the future. ‘
Karen MacLeod, Principal of AOD further added , "Our education model at AOD is unique and one that combines global design practices, industry know-how, international exposure and local heritage. Our powerful partnership with Northumbria gives AOD designers a global passport so their work could sit alongside any designers in the world. Locally our students exposure extend to our work behind some of the most powerful design initiatives in the country, such as Sri Lanka Design Festival, Mercedes benz fashion Runways, Island Craft Project and www.fashionmarket.lk creating remarkable opportunities for our students. ‘’
AOD’s Fashion education works closely with the global giant Northumbria to provide a world class curriculum in par with latest international movements. At AOD students have a unique opportunity to learn from an international faculty, access fashion industry professionals from home and abroad and get hands-on training to graduate as industry-ready professionals.AODs Fashion Program is one of the stongest in the South Asian region and attracts students from the regional belt.