Sri Lankan designer Kamil heads to Moscow Fashion Week
From Colombo to Moscow, Sri Lankan designer Kamil Hewavitharana is taking his signature batik creations to the international fashion stage. Following his journey with Colombo Fashion Week, the opportunity to showcase at Moscow Fashion Week marks another significant step for LIMAK BY KAMIL, carrying Sri Lankan craftsmanship and contemporary design to a global audience. As he prepares for the showcase, Kamil reflects on the journey, the responsibility of representing Sri Lanka, and his hopes for the future.
Q. When you first heard that Moscow Fashion Week was a possibility, what was your immediate reaction? Did it feel real straight away, or did it take some time to sink in?
When I first heard that Moscow Fashion Week was a possibility, my immediate reaction was a mixture of excitement, gratitude and a little disbelief. It took some time for it to really sink in because Moscow felt like such an important milestone in my journey as a designer. When I started my journey, I never imagined that my work would eventually take me to international fashion platforms. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to showcase my work in different countries, and every experience has helped me grow. But every new opportunity still feels special. For me, Moscow is much more than another fashion show. It is an opportunity to represent Sri Lanka, our creativity and our craftsmanship to an international audience. I feel very privileged to have been given this opportunity, and I am determined to make it meaningful.
Q. You mention that Moscow is the result of years of learning and pushing yourself. What is one lesson from that journey that has prepared you most for this moment?
The biggest lesson I have learned is to believe in yourself and never stop learning. My journey as a designer has not always been easy. There have been moments of doubt, challenges and times when I had to push myself much harder than I thought possible. But every collection, every fashion show and every international experience have taught me something valuable. I have learned that you cannot be afraid of making mistakes or trying something different. Fashion is constantly changing, and as designers, we also must keep evolving. My experiences outside Sri Lanka have taught me to be more confident, but they have also taught me humility. There is always something new to learn from another designer, another culture or another fashion environment. I believe that attitude has prepared me for Moscow. I am going there not only with confidence, but also with an open mind and a willingness to learn.
Q. Batik is at the heart of your work. How do you balance preserving its traditional character while making it feel contemporary for an international audience?
For me, Sri Lankan batik is special because of its history, craftsmanship and individuality. I have great respect for the traditional process, and I never want to lose the character that makes our batik uniquely Sri Lankan. At the same time, I believe tradition should not remain frozen in time. It can evolve while still respecting its roots.
I work with batik by introducing contemporary silhouettes, modern cuts, different textures, unexpected combinations and sophisticated styling. I want to take something that people may traditionally associate with Sri Lanka and show them how it can become modern fashion. The balance is very important. I don’t want to change batik so much that it loses its identity, but I also don’t want people to think it can only be used in traditional clothing. My goal is to give Sri Lankan batik a new voice; one that respects its heritage while allowing it to stand confidently on an international runway.
Q. What do you hope someone who knows nothing about Sri Lankan batik will understand or feel when they see your collection in Moscow?
I hope they feel curious, inspired and surprised. If someone has never seen Sri Lankan batik before, I want my collection to make them stop and wonder where the fabric and designs come from. I would love for them to become interested in the story behind the pieces and discover the craftsmanship involved in creating Sri Lankan batik. I also want them to understand that Sri Lanka is not only a beautiful destination with a rich culture and history; we also have extraordinary creative talent and craftsmanship. Through my collection, I want to present Sri Lanka in a contemporary way. I want the audience to see elegance, creativity and individuality, while still feeling the Sri Lankan identity behind the work. If someone leaves the show wanting to know more about Sri Lankan batik, then I feel I have achieved something meaningful.
Q. Is there a particular misconception about Sri Lankan fashion or craftsmanship that you keep in mind as you prepare your collection, and you hope that your work can challenge?
One perception I would love to challenge is that Sri Lankan craftsmanship belongs only to traditional or local fashion. Sri Lanka has incredibly talented artisans, craftspeople and designers, but sometimes the international fashion world does not get enough opportunities to see what we can create. I believe we can take our traditional crafts and present them through a completely contemporary fashion language. We do not have to copy international fashion to be accepted internationally. We can take inspiration from our own culture and create something that feels modern, sophisticated and relevant to the world. That is very important to me. I want my work to show that Sri Lankan craftsmanship has the quality, creativity and potential to be part of international fashion. I also hope it encourages other Sri Lankan designers to have confidence in our own identity and to take it proudly to the world.
Q. Moscow is not just a showcase but also an opportunity to observe an entirely different fashion environment. What are you hoping to learn from the experience?
I am very much looking forward to experiencing Moscow beyond the runway. Every country has its own fashion culture, creative language and way of presenting design. I want to observe how designers work, how collections are presented, how audiences respond and how the industry operates in a different part of the world. I am also excited about meeting other designers, models, stylists, photographers and fashion professionals. I believe that some of the most valuable learning comes from conversations and connections with people who have different experiences from your own.
I want to come back to Sri Lanka with fresh inspiration and new ideas. I also want to understand how I can continue developing my collections so they can communicate even more strongly with international audiences. For me, fashion is a continuous learning process, and Moscow is another opportunity to grow.
Q. You mention wanting to create a path for future Sri Lankan designers. What is the door you wish had been open for you when you were starting out?
I wish there had been more international opportunities and easier access to global fashion platforms when I was starting my journey. When you are a young designer, having talent and passion is important, but opportunities, guidance, connections and support can make a huge difference. Sometimes you know you have something to offer, but you simply don’t know how to take that first step onto an international platform. That is why I feel a responsibility to keep pushing forward. If my journey can show another young Sri Lankan designer that it is possible to take their work beyond Sri Lanka, then that makes everything worthwhile. I want future designers to believe that our country has a place in the international fashion conversation. I want them to feel proud of our craftsmanship, our creativity and our identity. I also hope that the doors I am helping to open will become wider for the designers who come after me. For me, Moscow is therefore not just a personal achievement. It is another step towards creating greater visibility for Sri Lankan fashion. I hope that one day, seeing Sri Lankan designers on international runways will be something normal, something the world looks forward to and celebrates.
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