This week I speak to the very talented INDI, A designer who has really made a unique trend with her fashion style, her simple, fun and friendly personality has added a huge list to her client names
although this beauty comes from a historical political family, she had no interest whatsoever in politics, as one of the biggest names that CFW brought out INDI has now moved to a new location to get your fashion fix under one roof and its called ICO Sri Lanka, its a Designer Fashion Hub where all items are carefully selected so please do check it out for a happy seaosn!
Today she speaks about life, love and fashion
Full Name – Indi Yapa Abeywardena
Hometown- Matara
Status- Married
Birthday- Never ask a woman that!
Passions- Designing, Movies and Family
Favorite Colors – Red, black & white
Why did you choose a career as a Fashion Designer?
Main reason would be my mom. She was a very creative person & used to make all my clothes. Then I lost her at a very young age & getting into fashion sort of keeps me close to her & her essence. Plus the money is not bad, so they said.
Who has been your biggest support in your life?
Its my father…. From day one on this earth, but not forgetting my amazing husband who is like a pillar if strength in my life right now.
Tell me your style of work?
Oh, Darling its fabulously organised, I wish I could say. I have a very busy schedule throughout the year and trying to keep it one step ahead at all times is the plan. With 2 bridal seasons a year, in-between shows for seasonal collections, retail shop to run and release of capsule collections. So a lot of planning goes into place, plan every step ahead of time.
What are some of your most defining moments in life?
The passing away of my mother when I was small really impacted me to look at life differently, take every moment with my loved ones not for granted.
Decision to move back to Lanka from London & giving up my job there.
My first show at Colombo Fashion Week, really made me believe in myself as a designer with the guidance from Ajai Vir Singh. It helped to setup my brand and to where I am today.
Tell me about your design studio?
My design studio is more home to me and my staff than an actual resident, its designed similar to one of the places I worked in London called Hendry Bertrand, one of biggest clothes and fabric manufactures in the world. It has the warehouse open feel and I’m proud to say we have employed about 14 ladies who are empowered to stand on their own, earn a living, we at the studio tend to hire women who has a story, kids have left them and gone abroad, husband has passed away, in the 50s age and never married. The studio has become a place for these women to come and share a dialogue, have bit of fun while working and a safe zone.
What has been your favorite travel destination and why?
Bali so far… Went with the best set of people ever & had a blast… loved the art deco, feel in that land… So much to get inspired. You get a complete experience from culture, the most kind people to the some great adventure sports.
What is your favorite part about being a Fashion Designer?
Seeing a client wearing your design at any event is a great feeling, the satisfaction one gets out of it is enthralling. Then there are the glamour side of fashion, such cocktails, fashion weeks, recognition in public and of course a great network of fashionable friends
Who are your favorite designers internationally and Locally?
Internationally – Womens ; Zuhair Murad / Mens ; Tom Ford
Locally – Womens ; Maus, Buddhi Batiks, Amilani and Dimuthu / Mens ; Fouzul Hameed and Sammani Pathiranagama
How do you handle stress and pressure?
I have a great set of friends, who are funny and keeps in touch throughout the day, then we also catch for a movie, dinner at nights, so the people around me really helps me to not take the stress and pressure.
How do you work on your designs?
There are two types of designs in my studio…
1. You get a client who comes with a design idea, pictures of a celebrity or another designer work and say I want this exact one but with a twist to match my skin tone, body shape with a bit of Indi love. So, we try to design something without copying.
2. I get inspired by what I see on the roads, feelings, animals or even a song and do a capsule collection / seasonal collection, that’s where the real magic comes into play.
Where do you want to see your brand showcasing?
I would love to show a collection at Paris Fashion Week or New York Fashion Week and as for retail market, if I could get my diffusion line INDI DIVA at Net-a- porter and INDI my signature line at a department store like Harrods, that would be a dream come true.
Tell me about your family and the bond you share with your brothers?
My Dad … is the most giving, kind & strongest human being that I know in my life … If I can be 10% of him I would be so proud.
I have two brothers who are making me believe in unconditional love. We share a great bond that lot of others would envy us. We are always there for each other no matter what life throws at us.
What has the biggest experience being apart of CFW?
Being part of the Unilever Sri Lanka group for their events, in design and creation of fashion for the ramp, photo shoots, advertisements of brands like LUX, Ponds, Vaseline etc was a massive experience. It’s entirely a commercial business level with corporate heads your dealing, trying to make them understand fashion terms, while incorporating their ideas and brand guidelines to a collection is a beautiful learning journey.
You were the closing designer for Lakme fashion week in Sri Lanka, what was your collection inspired?
The entire collection was inspired by Sri Lankan Liyawal & the intricate carvings on Sandakadapahana. I took their motifs & the patterns on them & made them in to prints…. combined it with Berallu which is a type of lace woven in south of Sri Lanka to come up with a truly Sri Lankan historical collection.
If
If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be?
- Victoria Beckham (Spice girl to Super woman)
- Shahrukh Khan (Rags to Richest)
- Danu Innasithamby (The Real Danu Unplugged)
If you could live in any sitcom, which one would it be?
1980s version of Robbin hood, that was telecasted on Rupavahini…. Over & over again.
If you could have been told one thing that you weren't told when you were a teenager, what would you like to have heard?
That I can pursue a career in traditional dancing and be recognized in Sri Lanka by my family. I was offered a full scholarship by Kalakshetra in India to pursue Bharatnatyam, which would have taken me away from the fashion world.
If a movie was being made of your life and you could choose the actress to play you, who would you choose and why?
I would choose Eva Mendez maybe… I don’t know. Lot of my friends thought she looks a bit like me.
In the Spot?
What are your thoughts on the rise in the suicide level?
Very unfortunate, it’s becoming a pattern and If we are there for people and listen to them when its required or be more attentive to them, we can actually help one another … Main reason for this I would say we have become ignorant and selfish. World is moving so fast, not everyone can keep up with it. No one is there for another and people are lonely even if they are in a room with 100 more people.
What are your thoughts on the local fashion industry?
We have great talent, from senior designers to emerging designers, who specializes in various fashion lines, batik, print, lace to couture but I keep saying everywhere, Sri Lanka really needs a governing body or a council to assist the local fashion industry to move forward towards the international market. We need a group of people who are willing to be active and regulatory body in order to get fashion buyers, get local designer ramp time in international fashion weeks.
Do you feel it’s a healthy environment, what would you like to change in the world of fashion?
Body Image .. fashion has created a mindset for younger girls.. they have to be skinny, putting a lot of pressure and self-conscious at such a young age. The fashion industry should move towards portraying average girls, a realistic image and size diversity from all world renowned brands.
What do you say is the biggest issue that the youth faces today in Sri Lanka?
Acceptance in Sri Lanka, may it be from their career choices, sexual orientation to education etc.. which can be heavily criticized by the Sri Lankan culture which lead to depression, social backwardness, social cyber bullying. All that can change the life structure and future of that particular youth and we might not even know, we are truly hurting them.
Fun
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Anurika miss … She became my second mom & I felt she believed in me.
What makes you feel the most secure?
Family and Friends
Who do you admire the most?
My Father
Have you ever had a reoccurring dream? What was it?
Yes I do. I’ll tell you in private. (wink)
What was your nickname growing up, or now?
I had many pet names my dad calls me even to date but its disclosed. But Indi is the nick name that stayed on which now has become my brand name as well.
Who was your hero when you were a child, and what did you do to be like them?
My father My hero.
I learnt about giving, kindness and unconditional love with no expectation in return for all that love given.
HI!! Danu, i am writing a article about Indi for an assigement. this was so helpful. Thank you Danu bro. By the way your shows are awesome.