Huge demand for Lankan batiks overseas

Ruwanthi ABEYAKOON

There is a huge demand for Sri Lankan batiks in India and in Europe, Director/Head of Design, Buddhi Batiks, Darshi Keerthisena told Daily News Business.

“My greatest achievement is taking Sri Lankan sarees and talent to India which is a talent rich country. Indians embrace it well because it is something different. Through my creations I wanted to show what Sri Lankans can do. Sri Lankan culture is unique.

I hope to promote this uniqueness. Sri Lankan talent and style are different. I want to take it to the global market,” she said.

“Buddhi Batiks is doing well in India. I opened the first store in Bangalore last year. Through Colombo Fashion Week 2007, I got the chance to meet Indian designer Ajay Singh. With the latest collection in Collage, Chennai, buyers have increased and there is a good demand,” Keerthisena said.

She also hopes to venture into the international market. “I hope to reach the International market. Scandinavian countries love Batiks. In Europe there is a big demand. The British Council assisted me in promoting my creations in the UK. I hope to make more contacts in the European market,” Keerthisena said.

“The airport store is mainly targeted at tourists. The store at Crescat serves expats and locals. There is a huge market in Sri Lanka for batiks,” she said.

Buddhi Batiks was founded by her father, Buddhi Keerthisena at Koswadiya. “The idea of having the factory in the village is to empower women. Ninety five per cent of the staff are women. At the moment I have a staff of seventy. During my father’s time when tourism was up we had 350 workers. I want to take it back there,” she said.