The portrait of a ‘Rebel’ fashion designer

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

EXQUISITE OUT FITS: Her creative mind is behind the exquisite outfits that she designs. The elegant dresses the models present have caught the attention of many. Today she has emerged as a rebel in the world of fashion. The icon fashion designer Ruchira Silva of Rebel talks about the roots of her path to success.

“I started my business in a very small way at the early age of nineteen years. I was attracted to Art and Design as a hobby very early in life at school. This inspired me to professionalize my hobby,” she said.

“My early education was at Sirimavo Bandaranaike followed by Visakha Vidyalaya. After completing my studies I ventured into dress designing and currently I own two high fashion outlets at Crescat Boulevard and Majestic City,” she said.

Ruchira has been involved in fashion designing for twelve years and has reached heights in her chosen path. “During my 12 year career in designing, I have exhibited my designs both locally and internationally. I design, manufacture and market them,” Ruchira explained.

Looking back at the way she had come, Ruchira says that she feels great about her achievements. “I have achieved a lot but the lack of opportunities and support locally, unlike in foreign countries, has not still provided me an opportunity to be recognized abroad,” she said.

“I am grateful to all the media for giving recognition to my designs. It has inspired and encouraged me to reach greater heights and success in this field and in my personal life,” she said.

She faces a lot of pressure on her journey as a fashion designer. “I do have a lot of pressure, but mostly I have learnt to cope with it. The efforts to market the Rebel Brand intentionally is creating a lot of pressure in me right now,” she added.

She believes that Sri Lankan women can go places in business even though there are obstacles. “Sri Lankan women are capable. Financial constraints, lack of family support and sponsorship are some of the things that hinder the success of women in their businesses,” she said.

“I draw inspiration from different people, for different purposes, at different times. I design for a woman who has a mind of her own and experiments with fashion. I give a lot of emphasis to cuts and design. I like to see young generation taking to all new designs,” Ruchira explained.

At present she focuses on expanding her current business and then reaching the international market in a big way. “My husband supports me a lot and gives me confidence to move forward. I hope to venture into the international market very soon,” she stressed.

This young fashion designer describes herself as a rebel at work but otherwise a very regular person.

“Sri Lankan fashion designers, models and choreographers should be given more exposure locally as well as internationally. There are hardly any local promoters or opportunities to open outlets abroad.

For example Indian sponsors promote their fashion designers to stage shows in Sri Lanka and in other countries. Sri Lanka needs more TV channels to give exclusive coverage for local fashion shows,” Ruchira pointed out.

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Finger printer with a difference

Hathoon Sheriffdeen

ADVANCED VERSION: A moderated Amano finger printing machine has been introduced by Hideki International (Pvt) Limited. The model of this machine is Amano AGX100 and it is a PC type finger printing machine.

“There were many finger printing machines in the market and made in China, but this is a machine made in Japan and the advanced version of them. This machine will last more than 10 years and it is used for timer and attendance maintenance as well as for door access control,” said the Deputy Managing Director, Hideki International (Pvt) Limited, Chandrika Rajakarunanayake.

The finger printing machine identifies the individual identity on a finger press with mifare cards (blank white cards) or the company identity card swipe of the specific individual.

“This Amano finger printing machine can be used by public sector organisations, government institutions and other offices which want to make their labour force effective and utilized to the maximum,” she said.

“Amano AGX100 finger printing machine generates various periodical reports on the spot. Once the system is upgraded with employees data, reports such as attendance reports, overtime reports, departmental and personal reports and missing punch reports are obtained on the spot,” Rajakarunanayake said.

Metropolitan will market the AMANO AGX100 finger printing machine, was introduced to the local market on March 13. Hideki International (Pvt) Limited is the sole agent for Amano and Ricoh brands in Sri Lanka and it has branches in Singapore and Tokyo as well.

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Tea industry issues receiving priority

Walter Liyanarachchi in Talawakelle

Special attention: The Minister of Plantation Industries is to pay special attention to the major issues, constraints and other problems to the development of the tea industry.

The Minister had cast this view at a meeting held at the Tea Research Institute in Talawakelle addressing the Chief Executive Officers, Chairmen of tea companies in Sri Lanka.

The Minister also made a request to the CEOs of plantation companies to help country’s economy by increasing the contribution of tea sector in employment generation and its contribution to GDP.

The Minister said that he is sad to say that many tea companies are not doing well in managing their estates. “We must keep in mind that the tea lands is the heritage of the people and the country and it is our duty to do our best to manage all the estates profitably as this plays a major role in Sri Lanka’s economy for many more decades to come,” Minister said.

The Minister emphasised that he is seriously concerned in performing the following aspects:

* Substantial investment in replanting,
* Tea factory modernisation to meet international standards,
* Increased commitment to value addition at estate level,
* Better living standards for workers by enhanced welfare activities,
* Efforts to reduce cost of production and to remain competitive in the international market etc.

He said that he is very concerned about the prices Sri Lanka is earning for tea where it has remained approximately 2 dollars per kilo over the last decade. Particularly for the tea sector strategy would be value addition and brand promotion, the Minister added.

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Cargills Food City: Most valued retail brand in Sri Lanka

BRAND STRENGTH:Cargills Food City has been hailed the most valued retail brand in Sri Lanka for 2006, with the company being placed third in the top-ten list of the most valued brands, behind Dialog Telekom and DCSL.

The Brand Index 2006 issued by Brand Finance Lanka has also rated Cargills Food City as AA - for Brand Strength, a rating, which is conceptually similar to company credit ratings.

Ruchi Gunawardena, Managing Director Brand Finance Lanka noted that “Cargills Food City has been rated as the most valuable Retail brand in Sri Lanka for creating value through reinventing retail heritage by bringing super marketing to the masses,” Gunawardena added, “Basically Cargills Food City has had the ability to re-invent itself to reach the masses. Their strategic innovation has created great value.”

Commenting on the rating Ranjit Page, Managing Director of Cargills (Ceylon) Limited said “We are proud and honored to have been recognised as the most valuable Retail Brand in Sri Lanka. But our success has not stemmed from expansion alone.”

Page noted that the business philosophy that has underpinned this success has been simple. “We try to make sure that through our core business we enrich the lives of the masses and empower their livelihoods.

We are proud to have masterminded a unique business model enabling the direct purchase of rice, vegetable and fruit from our local farming community. In line with our ethos of fair trade Cargills currently partners over 7,000 such farmers guaranteeing them a minimum price, which is about 20% above the cost of production,” he said.