Woman

Lankan women infuse fresh ideas to a traditional industry

With vibrant colours embedded on the soft, silky cloth batik has hit the trendy fashion scene while becoming the latest fashion statement of women here and abroad. Shedding the traditional rough cloth, limited colours and designs with a striking shift of material, colour and design, the fresh and feminine outlook experimented in batik has created ripples in fashion circles.

The cobalt blues, watermelon reds, sheer fabrics and slinky cuts of Sri Lankan batiks are vying for a spot on the world's catwalks. And several Sri Lankan women are behind it all.

Batik is the art of decorating fabric with molten wax and then dipping it in dye, which does not penetrate the wax and so leaves behind intricate patterns, often in many colours.

Yolanda Aluwihare, an award winning designer says batik can offer a wide variety.

She mixes up her line of fashionable clothing with satin, silk, applique work, jute cloth, lace, embroidery, sequins and light ornaments.

Drawing inspiration from nature and animals, Aluwihare's flowing clothes are snapped up by fashion lovers in the Middle East, Europe and Japan, she said, adding that a seven-yard sari retailed for around Rs. 37,000.

"I often experiment with new fabric and accessories to give simple designs that extra sparkling effect," Aluwihare said.

In the sleepy coastal village of Koswadiya, another promising batik designer Dharshi Keerthisena is creating batik swimwear, beach wraps, bridal gowns and even denims.

"Traditional batiks use bright colours. I work with a lot of pastels on different fabrics that are not associated with batiks like twill, voile, silk chiffons and silk georgette for saris," she said. The results are stunning - candy pinks have motifs of deep purple and violet while bright orange adds a touch of glamour to a stark black design.

There is a huge demand for Sri Lankan batiks in India and in Europe, the young designer claims.

While the name of this ancient craft is Javanese, the technique itself is popular in many Asian and African countries and was once an important part of Sri Lanka's vital textile sector. "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.

"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," she said.

"The idea of having the factory in the village [of Koswadiya] is to empower women. Ninety five per cent of the staff is 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.

Turning their back on modernisation, local designers use firewood to heat the water to boil the fabric and sun-dry each stage of production. Their electric sewing machines and irons are the only modern conveniences used.

"It's a complex art to learn and very time-consuming. For instance it takes about 10 days to finish one hand-dyed sari," said Indra Padmini, 41, a veteran batik artisan.

There is no right or wrong way in creating batik products, as hot wax seeps through the fabric to make both sides identical, Padmini said. Craft Council Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena says they are gradually introducing batik into local fashion study courses to give a fresh outlook to the ancient art. "Hopefully, we will get more supermodels to strut the world's catwalks in our designs." Agencies

Natural ways to lighten your skin

Dark spots, and freckles, and skin-damage - Looking to lighten your complexion? Every shade of skin is beautiful, but as we grow older our skin tone can change. Freckles may appear, dark spots can arise, and skin may not be as light as it once was. So, if you're still not ready to embrace your dark side, read on for a few natural whitening tips and tricks.

Use sunblock

One of the easiest ways to stay fair is to use sunblock on a daily basis.

Find a moisturiser that includes an SPF of 15 or higher and use it every morning after washing your face. Sunblock not only prevents your skin from getting darker, but also blocks harmful UV rays that can cause cancer and premature aging. Remember your hands when applying sunblock, as they are a prime area for age spots.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating once a week will remove dead skin cells to lighten and brighten your skin. Salt removes dry, flaky, dead skin. Wet face, apply a couple of tablespoons of sea salt, then gently massage with fingers. Focus on the T-zone and cheeks, but avoid the eye area. After one or two minutes, rinse with cold water to tighten the pores.

It is important to do this regularly, or face-creams will not penetrate.

You can do this maximum once per week.

Make a mask

A homemade mask is a great way to lighten your skin and a good excuse to kick back on the couch. Try using one once a week. Use one tablespoon of each of the following: sandalwood paste, lemon juice, tomato juice, and cucumber juice. Mix them all together to form a paste. Spread the mixture on your face and wait until it dries. Rinse and moisturise for a natural glow.

The exterior matters

We spend a lot of time on the interior of our homes but often neglect the exterior. It is just as important to keep the outside of the house in peak condition, making it sound and enjoyable to live in and adding value should you come to sell.

Once you've stepped inside the front door, it is extremely easy to forget about the outside. Money and time spent revamping the interior can be wasted if you don't pay attention to the structure of the house. Problems can arise such as, cracks in the paintworks, leaky roofs and rising damp. Any new docor will feel the effect of this and as a result may need to be done all over again. Dry weather is the best period to tackle maintenance on the exterior of your property as the weather can allow for sufficient drying times for paint work and sealing treatments.

Start by carrying out regular checks for subsidence and damp as this will help to stop serious structural problems occurring later on. Look out for any zigzag cracks.

Check that brickwork and mortar are in good condition. Crumbling mortar is a sign of deterioration from weathering. Wherever the weathering has occurred, will need to be re-pointed. Check that any soil is 15cm below the damp-proof course to prevent the risk of rising damp. Blocked gutters and constant dripping on the exterior can cause damp problems. Make sure you clean out the gutters regularly and ensure the joints aren't leaking. If they are, use a specialist sealer. Paint the outside of your house in warm, dry weather and never in rainy weather.

Before you start clean and repair gutters and down pipes.

Remove flaky paint with a wire brush and fill any holes with a filler. Choose a specialist masonry paint and apply using a brush or roller.

For woodwork- First rub down the painted surfaces using wet/dry paper and fill any cracks using a flexible wood filler, scrape out loose putty from window frames and reseal, cut out any rotten wood and replace with new. Finally paint woodwork with an exterior gloss.

aprilhamilton.com

Bean sprout sambol

Ingredients :

125 g Fresh bean sprouts

3 Fresh green chilies, seeded and sliced

1 Small onion, finely sliced

3 tablespoons scraped fresh coconut or desiccated coconut

1 teaspoon Salt

1 tablespoon Lemon juice, or to taste

Method : Wash bean sprouts thoroughly. Remove as many of the green skins as possible. Drain well. Mix all ingredients well together. Serve as an accompaniment to rice and curries.