CFW Couture + Trousseau, supported by Nations Trust Bank, is set to take place from September 17 to 19, with this season’s theme centered around Art as “Living Sculpture.” Organized by CFW, the event will showcase the rich artistry of couture through a carefully selected array of designers from Sri Lanka and South Asia, hosted in unique venues at the City of Dreams Sri Lanka.
In its 23rd iteration, Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) continues to fulfill its foundational goal of establishing Sri Lanka as a fashion hub within the region, making Colombo a focal point for South Asian design talent. Since its inception in 2003, CFW has served as a reliable platform for designers from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, fostering a narrative of cultural exchange and commercial opportunity that is unparalleled by other platforms in the subcontinent.
This season’s edition further enhances its regional and international appeal through continued collaboration with the BRICS International Fashion Federation, featuring a designer from China on the Couture + Trousseau runway. This partnership underscores CFW’s commitment to linking Sri Lankan and South Asian fashion with global markets and broader design dialogues.
Ajai Vir Singh, the Founder and Managing Director of Colombo Fashion Week, remarked: “For the past 23 years, Colombo Fashion Week has revitalized and defined the fashion landscape we see today, creating a platform for South Asian designers to interact. We have pioneered a Swim Week concept in South Asia using a hybrid format, and this season we are introducing Couture as an avenue for designers to evolve, akin to how pret-a-porter developed earlier. This season’s theme, ‘Living Sculpture,’ will be presented in a uniquely curated space at the City of Dreams.”
The designer lineup this season emphasizes couture craftsmanship, with each collection tailored for the bridal and trousseau market. This focus aligns with CFW’s strategic aim of integrating Sri Lankan designers into the rapidly expanding bridal and destination wedding sector in South Asia. Complementing the runway shows, the Wedding Tourism Summit will convene experts from fashion, hospitality, and tourism to discuss Sri Lanka’s potential as a destination for weddings.
Niluka Gunatilake, Senior Vice President of Cards & Consumer Assets at Nations Trust Bank, expressed pride in sponsoring Couture + Trousseau, noting that bridal and destination weddings are among the fastest-growing segments for Sri Lankan and South Asian designers. She emphasized that this platform provides designers with valuable access to this market, contributing to real economic opportunities across the fashion and hospitality sectors. Gunatilake looks forward to witnessing the manifestation of ‘Living Sculpture’ this September.
Additionally, CFW Couture + Trousseau will introduce Couture Cuisine, a collaboration that merges fashion and culinary experiences for attendees throughout the three-day event.
Kamal Munasinghe, Senior Vice President of Colombo Hotels at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and General Manager of Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, highlighted that CFW Couture + Trousseau is not merely a runway event but an immersive experience that spans the entire property. He stated that City of Dreams is designed to offer such experiences, where fashion, food, and hospitality coalesce to tell a unified story. This is the vision for CFW this September.
CFW Couture + Trousseau 2026 is presented by Nations Trust Bank, with venue partnership from Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, alongside support from Lanka Walltiles, Vision Care, Hameedia, and Ramani Fernando. CFW is further backed by partners including Acorn, Pulse, News First, Ceylon Today, Emerging Media, and Hard Talk. CFW remains a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s fashion design industry, serving as its principal voice while fostering a robust fashion ecosystem in collaboration with its partners.
Niluka Gunatilake, Senior Vice President of Cards and Consumer Assets at Nations Trust Bank, addresses the media.
Kamal Munasinghe, Senior Vice President of Colombo Hotels at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and General Manager of Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, discusses the partnership.
Ajai Vir Singh, Founder and Managing Director of CFW, speaks to the media.
Photo Caption: Headtable L-R: Mikail Hameed, Business Development, Hameedia; Indhu Selvaratnam, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of International Distillers; Kamal Munasinghe, Senior VP, Colombo Hotels, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, and General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka; Ajai Vir Singh, Founder & MD, CFW; Niluka Gunatilake, Senior VP, Cards and Consumer Assets, Nations Trust Bank; Harsha Maduranga, GM, Vision Care; Ramani Fernando, Founder and MD, Ramani Fernando Salons.
Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
