From a childhood steeped in colour, texture, and design to creating a signature fashion brand celebrated for its bold colours and intricate embellishments, Amila Perera has always turned imagination into art. Inspired by his creative parents, nurtured through early mentorship, and honed at AOD, he brings a distinct voice to every collection. Today, as he presents his latest work at MBFWSL 2025, he shares the journey behind AMIRAN, the stories that inspire him, and the vision that drives his craft.
- Growing up in a creative household, what moments from your childhood do you feel truly shaped your eye for detail and design?
Growing up in a creative home meant I was always surrounded by color, texture, and design, both in architecture and fashion. Watching my father turn simple ideas into meaningful spaces shaped my eye for detail, even before I understood his architectural plans filled with boxes and lines. Today, even in a different industry, I see the similarities: I imagine, draft confusing-looking patterns, and bring them to life just as he did with his structures. My mother also shaped my aesthetic. I loved watching her embellish garments for herself and my sisters, adding small touches that transformed them. One of my earliest memories is being mesmerized by rhinestones sparkling under shop lights, a fascination that still influences my designs. These early experiences taught me to appreciate subtle changes, craftsmanship, and the power of thoughtful design. They trained my eye to notice how light, color, and materials work together, and to understand that great design is built from small, intentional decisions.
- You knew by Grade 7 that you wanted to be a fashion designer. What gave you that confidence at such a young age?
By Grade 7, I had joined a personal art class, held in the same place as my English lessons, and it quickly became my favourite part of the week. I loved the freedom to draw whatever inspired me. Around then, I often redrew the celebrity photos from the newspaper, and one day I reimagined one with a completely new outfit. When I showed it to my English and art teachers, their encouragement changed everything. They were the first to tell me I could become a fashion designer, and from that moment, I never doubted it. By the end of Grade 8, around 2010–2011, I discovered AOD’s fashion programs and immediately knew that’s where I wanted to study. That early support, combined with my love for imagining outfits, gave me the confidence to choose my path at a very young age.
- How did your years at AOD help you discover your personal design identity?
My years at AOD were key to shaping my design identity. Although I always loved fashion, my early work was random and inspired mostly by the fantasy and drama of the cartoons and Disney movies I grew up with. Once I began studying at AOD, the projects, research, and constant experimentation helped me understand the kind of designer I wanted to become.
By the end of my first year, after several major projects and strong grades, I finally began to find my direction. AOD’s lecturers played a huge role in this growth. With their industry experience and honest feedback, they pushed me to refine my ideas and think beyond the classroom. The turning point came in my second year during a project exploring local craft. I chose Dumbara weaving, and it became one of my most meaningful experiences. Its bold colours, textures, and weight aligned naturally with the aesthetic I envisioned for my brand, Amiran. Combining Dumbara with my love for beads and rhinestones led me to create personalized woven fabrics with embellishments, something I believe I was among the first to experiment with. The positive response boosted my confidence even more. Overall, AOD gave me the space, guidance, and industry insight to turn scattered childhood inspirations into a clear, contemporary design style rooted in drama, structure, and craftsmanship.
- What role do colour, and embellishment play in defining the AMIRAN aesthetic?
In AMIRAN aesthetic, colour, prints and embellishments are very important in creating its signature style. The brand uses deep, rich colours that feel luxurious and bold, immediately can catch the eye of audience. These colours act as a backdrop for the embellishments to shine and details like embroidery, metallic accents and sparlings, and textured patterns which add depth, interest, and a sense of craftsmanship. Together, colour and embellishment work as a team, the strong colours make the details stand out, and the decorations make the designs look elegant, expressive, and memorable. This combination gives AMIRAN its unique identity stylish, luxurious, and full of personality.
- How do your travels around Sri Lanka influence the mood, palette, or texture of your collections?
Exploring Sri Lanka on my own gives me ideas for my designs and inspires my personal growth as well. The calm of the tea hills, the warm colours of sunrises and sunsets on the beaches, the deep blues and teals I see while diving in the ocean, and the textures of traditional crafts all appear in my collections.
Traveling solo allows me to fully experience the peace and beauty of every place I visit, and I try to bring these feelings, colours, and textures into the fabrics, patterns, and shapes of my work. Through this, my designs carry a little piece of the places I explore, and my journeys make me love this country and the world even more.
- This year, you’re taking part in MBFWSL as an emerging designer. What does this milestone mean to you personally and professionally?
Honestly, I have no words to fully describe what this milestone means to me. Becoming a fashion designer has been my childhood dream, and as a fashion design student, one of the biggest moments was preparing the graduate collection, my first opportunity to present myself as a designer to the outside. Unfortunately, my final year coincided with the global Covid-19 pandemic, which made it incredibly challenging to bring my vision to life. My original collection included six massive, dramatic garments, but due to time constraints and restrictions, I could only complete three. While the entire batch lost the chance to showcase it fully in 2020, I was fortunate to present those three pieces at MBFWSL 2021. After that, I spent time abroad building my career and gaining experience, but now I’m back in Sri Lanka, ready to fully represent my talent and my brand, Amiran. Participating in MBFWSL this year with a complete, ambitious collection is not just a professional achievement it’s a personal milestone, a dream realized, and a statement of my growth as a designer.
- What feels different about presenting a full collection now compared to your student showcases in 2018 and 2021?
What feels different about presenting a full collection now compared to my student showcases in 2018 and 2021 is the process itself. As a student, even a single garment required navigating many stages. Now, as a professional, creating garments comes more naturally, I can focus on bringing the designs to life rather than just managing the steps. This is also the first time seeing a full collection ready for the runway, which feels entirely new and exciting. Yet, whether as a student or now, it’s never about the number of pieces, it’s always about the joy of seeing my ideas come to life.
- Having once worked backstage at MBFW, how does it feel to now be on the other side of the runway?
I’ve been backstage at MBFW a couple of times, supporting the team with all the behind the scenes work that keeps a show running smoothly. To stand here this year as a designer feels incredible. It’s the moment I’ve been hoping for many years, and finally experiencing it feels both unreal and deeply rewarding.
- What has been the most fulfilling part of preparing your collection for this year’s show?
The most rewarding part of preparing my collection this year was finally collaborating with Screenline Holdings, one of Sri Lanka’s top embellishment companies.
Since my first-year AOD factory visit, I’ve been fascinated by their work, especially with rhinestones and sparkles, and I’ve dreamed of working with them ever since. I had hoped to collaborate for my graduate collection, but the pandemic made it impossible. Making it happen now and seeing my ideas come to life through their embellishments has been the most exciting and meaningful part of this journey.
- And what has been the most challenging part of bringing this collection to life?
The biggest challenge was definitely the timeline. I had less than two months to build an entire, large-scale collection from the ground up, which was incredibly challenging. Everything had to be done quickly but still meet a high creative and production standard. Despite the pressure, my team and I pushed hard, stayed focused, and managed to bring it all together. It wasn’t easy, but the outcome made every intense moment worth it.
- What story or emotion sits at the heart of your MBFWSL 2025 collection?
The collection for MBFW ‘Dreamer’ is a personal expression of hope and humanity. This collection is inspired by the anti-war movement, it reimagines military silhouettes with modern artistry and evening elegance, giving voice to the vulnerable people affected by conflicts. This collection celebrates compassion, unity, and the choice to love deeply, reminding us all to cherish one another and the world around us.
- Looking ahead, what is the bigger vision you have for yourself and for AMIRAN?
Looking ahead, I see AMIRAN becoming more than a brand, a lifestyle synonymous with quality, style, and innovation. I aim to strengthen our connection with local audiences while building national and international recognition. As part of this vision, I plan to launch two sub-brands: Amiran Bridal, redefining bespoke wedding fashion, and Amiran RTW, offering elegant, accessible ready-to-wear. Ultimately, I want to lead AMIRAN into a new era of growth, creativity, and lasting impact in the fashion industry.
