Destination Island, MBFWSL 2025’s Day 4, presented by the Academy of Design (AOD) and powered by DIMO, the authorised distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka, at Cinnamon Life, the City of Dreams in Colombo, promises to transport the audience to a tropical paradise. This spectacular showcase will highlight resort wear, swimwear, and leisure-inspired tailoring, capturing the essence of vibrant island living while seamlessly blending global fashion trends with distinctive Sri Lankan cultural motifs.
The day aims to position Sri Lanka not only as a hub for fashion but also as a premier travel destination, celebrating the nation’s diverse landscapes, rich art forms, and innovative creative spirit.
Backstage, meticulous fittings and styling sessions have transformed early design concepts into flawless, runway-ready ensembles. The team has carefully adjusted for model proportions, fabric movement, and overall comfort, while also solving practical challenges such as sourcing specific materials and adapting weather-sensitive techniques. Every garment is crafted to faithfully reflect the designer’s original vision, ensuring a seamless presentation from concept to catwalk.
The runway itself will mirror the island’s natural charm, with elements like lotus ponds, cascading water droplets, and birds in flight creating a fully immersive environment. Complemented by carefully curated visuals and ambient soundscapes, the show promises to transport the audience into a lush, tropical experience, transforming the runway into a curated escape into paradise. Each collection’s silhouettes, colours, and textures are thoughtfully enhanced by this environment, allowing the thematic inspiration to resonate in every detail.
Sri Lanka’s diverse terrains, climates, and coastlines, spanning from north to south and east to west, have served as the central muse for the show. Designers across tailoring, draping, swimwear, and resort wear have drawn from these natural and cultural references, presenting a cohesive narrative that highlights the island’s beauty on a global stage. Compared to previous years, this edition of MBFWSL 2025 expands its scope with a broader roster of international designers, showcasing South Asia’s creative vibrancy while placing a renewed emphasis on craftsmanship, sustainability, and thoughtful design. By blending innovation with tradition, Day 4 promises a visually stunning and culturally rich celebration of fashion that truly embodies the spirit of
Sri Lanka.
Among the designers defining this season’s direction are Joanne Stoker and Somya Lochan.
Joanne, MilkSea & Soil
For Joanne, Milksea & Soil began with colour. She started by observing the natural tones that shape everyday Sri Lankan landscapes - milky neutrals, gentle coastal blues, and warm earthy browns. These shades became the anchor of the collection, influencing everything from fabric selection to the overall rhythm of the silhouettes.
Because the collection uses handloom and upcycled textiles, the process also meant working with whatever colours and weaves were available locally. Instead of pushing the materials in a fixed direction, the fabrics helped guide the collection, letting *Milk, Sea, and Soil* develop naturally. Sketches were adjusted along the way as new textures and colours came in, with each piece reflecting the elements it’s inspired by.
Behind the scenes, the approach stayed practical and focused: letting colour lead, paying attention to fabric, and keeping the overall idea clear and consistent. *Milk, Sea, and Soil* becomes a simple, grounded interpretation of Sri Lanka’s landscape, translated into pieces meant to be worn here.
Somya, Cushion
For Somya, Cushion is a collection where concept and craft come together in unexpected ways. The process started with ideas around introspection, grief, and memory, and evolved into designs that carry subtle meaning in form and detail. Some pieces are even designed to fold or shift, turning the garments themselves into questions, a small, interactive layer that invites the audience to look closer.
Materials guided much of the work. Himroo textile, revived in partnership with the Aurangabad Himroo Factory, forms the backbone of the collection, alongside handwoven rubies, hand embroidery, and woven wool. Even buttons are handmade, highlighting the care and skill behind every detail. These choices give Cushion texture and depth while remaining wearable and thoughtful.
The collection also reflects collaboration with around 100 artisans from 12 to 13 states in India. Throughout the process, each step - from sketches to finished garments - focused on craft and thoughtful design. Cushion encourages viewers to notice the details and the stories behind the materials, translating personal and cultural memory into wearable pieces.
As the show comes together, Destination Island will move beyond presenting seasonal resort wear. It will demonstrate how Sri Lanka’s tropical identity, design talent, and creative energy can position the island as the ultimate destination for culture, travel and fashion-driven tourism.
Naushad Ali, Between Shores
For Naushad, the starting point of this collection was the shared rhythm between Pondicherry and Sri Lanka, the light, the landscape, and the easy pace of coastal living. As he developed the range, those details naturally shaped the direction. The silhouettes became more open, the fabrics grew lighter, and the palette softened into tones that felt true to both places. The focus moved away from individual pieces and more toward creating an overall feeling of ease.
Handwoven cotton from his artisan clusters guided much of the process. The fabric’s texture and irregular weave dictated how the garments formed, allowing him to respond to the material instead of pushing it in a fixed direction. Modular elements also emerged, pieces that can shift, wrap, or layer depending on how the wearer moves, echoing the adaptability of island life.
He hopes the runway feels calm and unhurried, with clothes that breathe and move naturally. The most meaningful part of creating the collection has been working closely with the weavers again after a difficult season of rain and delays. Watching the colours and fabrics return reminded him why the craft matters and gave the collection its quiet, grounded energy. Beyond the garments themselves, Naushad wanted the collection to convey a story, of patience, collaboration, and subtle beauty, inviting the wearer to slow down, connect with the craft, and find comfort in clothing that feels alive and responsive.
