Natharlea Yahampath

Creative Director/ Design Consultant

Narthalea wears many hats and is a multi-talented professional, taking on the roles of designer, a designer, a sustainable fashion consultant, Creative Director, Fashion Operations consultant, educator, and celebrity designer. But through all of this, Narthalea mainly focuses on promoting Sri Lankan craft and talent while championing sustainable and conscious fashion. With over a decade of experience working closely with Sri Lankan craft communities, she has collaborated with over a hundred artisans to enhance their livelihoods and showcase their work on a larger stage.

“Since I was a kid, I've always loved and admired local craftsmanship and heritage artisans. It has always been my dream to find ways to support artisans and their livelihoods through my work. That's why I started my career in fashion, and studying for my Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design and Textiles and Master's degree in Design and Innovation at AOD has been a key part of making this dream a reality, as AOD is deeply rooted in supporting local craft”

Education

Northumbria University - BA (Hons) Fashion & Textile Design
De Montfort University - MA Design Innovation
UCL - Second Year PhD student - Design Engineering

Narthalea was recently honoured with the prestigious Sri Lankan Women Leader Award in 2024 by The World Women Leadership Congress, which serves as a significant recognition of her outstanding contributions. This award is a testament to the unwavering support of her remarkable community and the dedication of numerous individuals involved in her efforts to enhance the livelihoods of various artisan communities.

Honours & awards

Women Leader Award 2024 - World Women Leadership Congress
Asian Designer of the Year - 2016
MBFW Designer of the Year - 2015
Dolce and Gabbana Internship - under the mentorship of Stefano Gabbana