Weaving Through Time: Carrying Forward Sri Lanka’s Soul in Fashion

An Exclusive Interview with Yolanda Aluwihare

Fashion, at its truest, is not a fleeting season of style but a lifelong dialogue between memory and imagination. In Sri Lanka, where ancient handlooms have sung the same rhythm for centuries and families have passed down the wisdom of weaving from mother to daughter, fashion becomes more than fabric—it becomes heritage made visible.
At Ceylon Digest, we believe stories of fashion are also stories of culture, economy, and identity. Our guest today, Yolanda Aluwihare, stands at this crossroads, where tradition and modernity meet.
Born into a family whose values nurtured artistry, perseverance, and cultural pride, her journey is not hers alone but also that of those who inspired her—parents who gave roots, teachers who lit the path, and communities of weavers who carry ancestral skill in their fingertips.
In her collections, the pulse of Sri Lanka’s traditional weaving culture is not only preserved but reimagined. Every handwoven thread supports not just artistry but livelihoods, empowering rural craftswomen and strengthening the local economy. Fashion here becomes more than attire—it becomes a bridge to tourism, offering travelers a chance to encounter Sri Lanka not only through sights and landscapes but also through textures, colors, and craft that embody the island’s spirit.
In a world of mass production, her designs remind us that slow fashion is not a trend but a responsibility—a way of wearing heritage while building the future. She is more than a designer; she is a cultural architect, carrying forward the untold story of Sri Lanka through textiles, silhouettes, and dreams.

Interview

Q1. Your family background has clearly influenced your journey. Could you share how your upbringing and early experiences nurtured your passion for fashion?

A: As a child I used to design & make various outfits for my dolls. My mother too had a flare for fashion and designing.

Q2. Were there particular family traditions or values that encouraged you towards creativity and leadership in this field?

A: No, I started Batik lessons as a hobby as a young housewife. With time, my creations were recognized and appreciated by many small boutiques leading to the opening of my very own outlet.

Q3. Traditional weaving is both art and livelihood in Sri Lanka. How do you integrate handloom traditions into your collections?

A: I combine handlooms, beeralu and many other heritary components to create many of my pieces as I love to promote our Sri Lankan culture.

Q4. In what ways do you see fashion—and specifically handloom weaving— contributing to Sri Lanka’s economic growth and women’s empowerment?

A: As a designer, I specialize in timeless, hand crafted batiks however, Handloom weaving is a very important tradition which is part of our countries heritage. The handloom industry provides employment to many women in the rural area. Thus empowering them to become independent financially & helping them to help the economy of yelling country grow. Batik handloom & Beeralu are appreciated by the tourists. This will definitely help put Sri Lanka on the global map of fashion.

Q5. Tourism is one of Sri Lanka’s vital sectors. Do you believe that fashion and traditional crafts can strengthen cultural tourism and give the island a unique presence on the global map?

A: Absolutely, just like many other countries we should have our own identity to promote tourism.

Q6. Many countries use fashion festivals and cultural showcases to promote their image abroad. Would you like to see stronger collaborations between Sri Lankan designers and the Sri Lanka Tourism sector to highlight our culture internationally?

A: Most definitely. We should have fashion festivals & exhibitions & promote them internally.

Q7. How do you balance being rooted in Sri Lankan culture with appealing to a global audience?

A: Incorporate Batik & other local elements with a twist so that they appeal to the global audience.

Q8. What challenges do Sri Lankan designers face when entering international markets, and how can these be overcome?

A: Some of the main challenges are lack of good seamstresses and fabrics. Our garments need to focus on quality as well. Additionally, we should yearly participate in international trade fairs to promote our Sri Lankan designers. I’m grateful to say that I have had plenty of opportunities in having stalls in a numerous amount of countries such as Japan, Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris and many more.

Q9. Beyond your creative vision, how has your family supported and guided you in this demanding journey?

A: My husband supported me to a great extent. Especially when I participated in international trade fairs. He was a very good in the residencies. It was not an easy journey. Hard work, passion and team work brought my label to the top of the competitive world of fashion.

Q10. Do you believe family influence continues to inspire your design decisions and business strategies today?

A: Yes, my daughter who works with me designs & influences me in my creations and she is truly excellent in her creativity.

Q11. What kind of fashion legacy do you hope to carry forward for the next generation?

A: As I have experience working with the younger generation, I hope they carry on our heritage and culture in their designs as a tribute to our country.

Q12. If one day a young designer looks back at your work, what message do you hope they discover in your designs?

A: …To stay true to your signature look & not copy other designers. My designs are inspired by the colours & shapes of nature.

Her story is a living reminder that fashion is not vanity—it is economy, culture, tourism, and community stitched together. From her family roots to the hands of rural weavers, from the runway to the global stage, Yolanda Aluwihare’s work shows how one designer can carry forward a nation’s heritage while weaving opportunities for the future.
In her vision, Sri Lanka does not merely follow trends; it becomes the loom on which stories, economies, and identities are threaded together for generations to come—while inviting the world to travel through its culture not only by visiting places, but by wearing its soul.