People: designer Shri R. Amarasinghe is flying the Lankan flag high in Paris with her Sri Lankan-French fusion fashion house, La Maison Shabél.
She showcased the brand’s unique blend of Sri Lankan heritage and Parisian elegance successfully this year via two impressive events – first was its anticipated debut at the ‘Avantex Paris 2024’ trade show in July and then came an exclusive two-day pop-up event at Hôtel Mona Bismarck from 12-13 September.
Shri, a former computer engineer turned designer and textile artist, is committed to ethical fashion and ‘Avantex Paris 2024’, a premier platform for sustainable fashion, offered the perfect platform for the debut.
Meanwhile, the pop-up showcased her latest collection, ‘Garden of Eden’, a blend of timeless elegance, artistic expression, and contemporary style, with each piece reflecting Shri’s passion.
“An effort to blend the vibrant hues of Sri Lanka with the elegance of Parisian fashion, this conceptual fashion collection is a sophisticated and nuanced interpretation of the biblical story and offers various perspectives on themes such as self-discovery, the pursuit of wisdom, and the search for a kind of paradise,” said Shri, speaking about the new collection.
For Shri, clothing is much more than fabric stitched together; it’s a visual narrative that tells the unique story of each person who wears it: “Every choice – deliberate or subconscious – reflects an individual’s identity, culture, values, and experiences. From traditional garments passed down through generations to modern fashion choices, clothing captures moments of personal history, belonging, and self-expression.
“Clothing allows us to present who we are or who we aspire to be, transcending mere utility. It tells our stories without words, inviting others to understand a part of our journey. Designing unique statement pieces is my way of helping people tell their stories.”
Shabél Paris was inspired by Shri’s deep admiration for her mother, who seamlessly blended her Lankan heritage with Western fashion influences, and aims to create fashion that reflects the fusion of cultures, honours heritage, and empowers individuals to tell their own stories through what they wear.
The delicious seafood laksa at the VOC Café
Plates: if I had to name just one place that’s been steadily stepping up its game with its food offering, it would definitely be the Dutch Burgher Union’s VOC Café.
The café recently launched a great series of themed nights, including Burgers & Hotdogs, Pasta, Indonesian, Mongolian, Laksa, and Kebab & Shawarma nights, with something delicious to suit just about everyone’s palate.
From what I’ve tried so far, the beef smore burger and the all-pork dog (with black pork curry, lingus, and bacon) were superb, while the laksa – one of my favourite dishes – was everything I hoped it would be.
New offerings aside, the traditional hopper night on Wednesdays and Sri Lankan buffet on Saturdays, which have been happening for years, are also not to be missed. The Lankan spread includes hoppers, string hoppers, kottu, black pork curry, fish curry, ambul thiyal, and all the trimmings and never fails to satisfy.
The Burgers & Hotdogs night will be back tomorrow (5) and again on 18 October, while the not-to-be-missed Laksa night will be back on 10 October (Thursday).
Tip: the special themed food promotions by the VOC Café are not limited to DBU members and are open to the public, so try them out!
Allison Jasinski
Poems: today’s poem is from writer and poet Allison Jasinski, who began writing to navigate post-traumatic stress and connect with others on a healing path after losing her home in a fire in 2021.
Allison writes on themes of trauma, grief, and mental health. This tender poem is titled ‘a non-exhaustive list of wildly courageous acts often mistaken as weakness’:
Crying on public transport / crying in the supermarket / crying in a bank lobby / crying in a job interview / crying / admitting you messed up / admitting you can’t handle it / admitting you don’t have the bandwidth / admitting they didn’t want you / asking for help with the kids / asking for help with your hospital bills / asking for help with your homework / asking for help with your suicidal thoughts / saying you have no idea what you’re doing / saying your lost your marriage / saying you lost the baby / saying you’re not okay / saying you didn’t make the cut / taking a break / taking time off / taking anti-depressants / taking it slow / taking a cab to an AA meeting / leaving a relationship / leaving an HR complaint / leaving the psych ward / leaving your heart open / leaving your heart open / leaving your heart open / again and again and again