Savour Sri Lanka's Style

Once Mostly Known for Being the Best Place to Buy Victoria’s Secret Lingerie From Factory Surplus ‘back-of-the-truck’ Outlets, Sri Lanka Now Sports a Completely Different Avatar. Come Here to Discover Stunning Modern Use of Batik, Beautiful Colonial Buildings Restored Into Retail Sanctuaries, Fabulous Antique Folk Jewellery, and Swanky Beach and Resort Wear.
 

- Ashish Chawla

Sri Lanka is quite the delightful surprise when it comes to shopping. For the longest time, Indian travellers knew it as a place to shop for factory surplus from brands like Noritake or Victoria Secret. In the decade after Sri Lanka’s economic reforms of 1977, the country experienced a flood of growth in its garment manufacturing sector. Some of the world’s top apparel and lingerie brands moved their business from India to Sri Lanka, finding it cheaper and easier to produce there. As factories scaled up, surplus product spewed out too. Interestingly, one of the country’s top fashion entrepreneurs, Otara Gunawardene began her business in the late 80’s by seeing the opportunity in selling these factory surpluses. Back then, she sold them from the boot of her car to fund treatment and rescue of street animals. Eponymously named Odel (from Otara Del Gunawardene), her first store opened in 1989, in a 400-square-foot space on Dickman’s Road, now renamed after acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker Dr Lester James Peries. From there, it expanded into a retail empire, becoming a favourite among Indian A-listers and western tourists. Within a decade, the flagship store opened in a massive colonial building in Alexandra Place in the heart of Colombo, setting a trend for others to follow.

And while, a few years ago, Gunawardene sold her stake in the business and now focuses entirely on her work with rescued dogs, she inspired a new generation of fashion entrepreneurs and designers in Lanka.

Colombo’s shopping neighbourhoods that feature these designers and fashion retailers are symbolic of the colourful fabric of today’s Lankan society that comprises Sinhalese, Moors, Tamils, Burghers (Portuguese, Dutch and British descendants), Chinese and Malay communities.