A woman’s beauty may lie in her looks, but it could be said that it is a woman’s attire and style that makes her stand out. Her attire is also important to her personality. Considering the important role an outfit plays in a woman’s appearance and the impression she makes, it is truly a craft to design clothes that suit the individual, especially based on her complexion and figure. Among such designers in Sri Lanka, Nayoma Wijesinghe stands out.
Wijesinghe has established herself as a designer in Sri Lanka, with her work in bridal dressing gaining her over 18,000 followers on Instagram and 29,000 followers on Facebook. This, however, pales in comparison to her standing in the industry.
The Daily Morning Brunch had the opportunity to speak with Wijesinghe about her craft and what she has planned going forward.
“I showed interest in designing while I was still in school. I even stitched my uniform by myself. After completing my Advanced Level examinations, I attended several classes to learn about sewing. I schooled in Balangoda, and later moved to Colombo to follow a course at the National Youth Council. During this time, I stayed at my uncle’s house. He had studied designing at the Moratuwa University. I was drawn to his work, and he taught me a lot about designing. What has brought me to where I am today is my interest and inclination,” she said.
Prior to settling in Colombo, Wijesinghe used the skill she had learned to design clothes for the orders she received from her hometown Balangoda and neighbouring areas. “It is after marriage that I moved to Colombo, and gradually started sewing saris and jackets. As I slowly gained popularity, Chandimal Jayasinghe had clothes designed for his brides by me. After that, many famous beauticians came to me for bridal designs,” she shared.
Today, Wijesinghe designs clothes for reality shows as well as designs clothes for beauty pageants local and overseas. Her portfolio has also grown to include wedding attire for famous actors and cricketers, and it is almost impossible to find a popular personality who hasn’t had an outfit designed by Wijesinghe. She was even recognised by international organisations for her work.
“I am humbly joyful about where I am today. I can’t even count the number of actors, popular personalities, politicians, sportspersons, and others across sectors who have come to me to have their outfits designed. I have designed so many clothes. The staff attached to my company is a great strength to me. There are times when we design clothes for 3-4 days at a stretch, without a break. And yet, this profession is one I gain a lot of satisfaction from,” Wijesinghe shared.
She added: “I plan on carrying out workshops on designing across the island very soon. It is through effort and dedication that I am where I am today, as this has allowed me to create designs well and without issue.”
PHOTO Saman Abesiriwardana