Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka Returns With A Bold New Vision For 2025

Sri Lanka is preparing to welcome its most ambitious fashion showcase yet as Mercedes‑Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka (MBFWSL) 2025 approaches. Presented by the Academy of Design (AOD) and powered by DIMO, MBFWSL is fast becoming the stage where Sri Lanka’s design identity meets global ambition.

With dates set for 19 to 23 November 2025, this year’s edition promises a bold program, high‑profile names, and fresh talent that could be tomorrow’s stars.

The Four Runways That Tell the Story

MBFWSL 2025 is organized into four thematic runway evenings, each with its own curatorial narrative:

• Day 1 - Emerging Designers Runway

  A showcase of up‑and‑coming voices, giving new designers a platform to present original collections grounded in Sri Lankan aesthetics.

• Day 2 - Future Craft Runway

  This day focuses on craftsmanship, sustainability, textile innovation, and how tradition can be reframed through new techniques and materials.

• Day 3 - Destination Island Runway

  Designers will channel Sri Lanka’s landscapes, culture, and identity - beaches, jungles, local motifs - as source material for fashion.

• Day 4 - Fashion Innovation Runway

  The grand finale is reserved for boundary pushing ideas, tech‑infused pieces, experimental silhouettes, installations, and scenographic storytelling.

This layered structure underscores MBFWSL’s ambition to be more than a fashion show—it aims to tell a multi‑chapter story about Sri Lankan design today and tomorrow.

Names You’ll See and Designers to Watch

While the full roster for 2025 is still being finalized, several names have already surfaced, and some designers stand out as ones to keep an eye on.

Established and High Profile

Amesh Wijesekera's Gender-inclusive eco-friendly collection

• Amesh Wijesekera is among the designers associated with the MBFWSL platform. He is known for seamlessly blending Sri Lankan heritage with globally contemporary lines. 

• Joanne Stoker (London‑based) has also been featured in the MBFWSL “Meet the Designers” series, pointing to possible crossovers and collaborative showcases. 

• Chihiro Fernando is another name highlighted in the designer spotlight activities of MBFWSL. 

These designers bring both visibility and credibility to the event, helping connect Sri Lanka’s fashion week to international circuits.

Ones to Watch

• Emerging Designers from AOD: This runway segment is expected to unearth fresh names from within Sri Lanka’s academic design community. MBFWSL has historically served as a launchpad for graduates and local designers.

• Local Labels with Niche Identity: Expect to see smaller labels focused on slow fashion, upcycled textiles, hand weaving, or heritage craft revival. These designers may not yet be household names, but they carry the ethos that MBFWSL’s theme days (Future Craft, Innovation) seem to favor.

• Collaborative Hybrid Designers: Those who blend fashion with tech, wearable art, smart textiles, or cross disciplinary works are likely candidates for the final “Innovation” runway nights.

Why This Year Is a Turning Point

This edition matters for several reasons:

• Reasserting Sri Lanka’s Fashion Identity: After years of economic and social challenges, MBFWSL is signaling that Sri Lankan design still carries creative urgency and global relevance.

• Bridging Legacy and Innovation: With days explicitly devoted to craft and forward thinking, the event is not choosing sides - it is seeking integration.

• Elevating New Talent: By spotlighting emerging designers, MBFWSL continues to act as a bridge between education, local industry, and international exposure.

• Aligning With Global Trends: With sustainability, material innovation, and design technology increasingly central to fashion globally, this edition positions Sri Lanka to engage in those conversations - not as a follower, but as contributor.

What You Can Expect as a Guest or Industry Observer

• Each runway show will be a narrative experience - music, staging, choreography, and design will work together, not in isolation.

• There will likely be designer panels, exhibitions, pop‑ups, and immersive spaces aligned with the daily themes, giving attendees more than just a catwalk.

• Social media and livestream integrations will broaden reach. Expect local and regional audiences to tune in.

• For fashion buyers, creators, or students, this is a rare chance to connect with creators, trends, and textile innovations emerging in Sri Lanka now.

Under the stewardship of AOD and DIMO, MBFWSL 2025 is shaping up to be more than just a fashion week - it’s a statement of intent. It speaks to a future in which Sri Lanka’s creative voice is not derivative, but self‑confident, rooted yet experimental.