Niroshani gives ‘LIFT’ to fashion industry

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

It is said that a mother’s blessings go a long way in achieving one’s goals. Mingling with fashion has been part of her life. Dressing up has been a passion for her from early days. Niroshani Leanage selected a career in fashion designing foregoing her desire to study medicine which her mother fully endorsed. She has carved a name in the fashion industry and stands tall among other industry players.

She was interviewed by the Daily News Business.

Q. What business are you engaged in and how do you set about it?

A. I am engaged in fashion education and fashion designing. I graduated from the Bangalore University India and did my Masters in UK. I started Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (Pvt) Ltd. in 2000 at a time when there were no fashion schools in Sri Lanka.

This is a family business and the sole investor is my mother. She invested having faith in my ability to perform and I have shown results.

This year is special as we celebrate ten years of operations. We have organized a graduation fashion show to be held at the Hilton Colombo next month.

The Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) provides education related to fashion industry. There are courses from Diplomas to Advanced Diploma in fashion including textile for fashion, footwear and accessories design, a new area that started with the expansion. We will showcase the public of footwear and accessories in this year’s graduation show.

The LIFT has eminent personalities in the Board and is linked with many universities abroad. We have long standing relationships with UK, Australia, Malaysia, Scotland, Singapore and many other countries.

Apart from providing fashion education there is a subsidiary, LIFT Overseas Study Placement Centre where through this company we have representative status in the University of Northampton UK.

We provide free service for students to find foreign universities in their final year. This is beneficial as students need to feel the cultural difference not theoretically, but by experiencing it. This would provide the students with the opportunity to study in fashion capitals.

Q. How do you balance your family and business?

A. I have a relatively small family, my mother and sister. I am with my mother the whole day. Business has bonded us more and more. My sister is married and living abroad. Though we are apart we spend a great deal of time together as we regularly meet.

I have a fixed working hour from 9 am to 5 pm and my off day is Sunday. It is a day for prayers and for myself.

Q. What were the challenges you faced?

A. I faced huge challenges at the beginning. Fashion was relatively a new subject to Sri Lanka at that time.

The moment you say fashion, parents were reluctant to send their children. We had to educate the parents first. Gradually this situation changed for the better.

The LIFT organized 2002 graduation show with over 5,000 invitees with the support of the Government and the Tourist Board.

People understand through this show what fashion is all about. Fashion is blended with science to bring out the personality through clothing.

There are challenges coming up when you are in a competitive industry. I had a well focused vision and faced the challenges successfully.

Challenges encourage new thinking for better development of business as without challenges there will not be any improvement.

Q. What are your goals?

A. I have achieved most of the goals. I like to see local designers come up with their labels catering to local as well as international markets. I plan to set up LIFT as an international company and the ground work is in progress. In future there will be LIFT International offering service as well as product.

Q. Being a woman was it an advantage to be in business?

A. Gender does not matter. However, being a woman in fashion industry and being in the education field is some advantage. It is all about clothing. I became an example to others.

There are opportunities and it is how well you take it up. With a clear vision and set goals you can achieve your targets and manhood or womanhood is not relevant.

Q. What is your advice to women in business?

A. One needs to assess what one’s preferred lifestyle before embarking on business. It is important to consider your passion and live with it. This will enable you to evenly balance your life. The three main pillars women in business should possess are courage, infusion and vision. Sri Lankan women irrespective of whatever religion they belong to need to have spiritual guidance to move on. When you engage in business you have a big responsibility and need to take the right steps.

Q. What were your achievements in family and business?

A. With regard to family we are closely bonded due to business. There is a strong unity among ourselves.

The overseas project is handled by my sister and brother-in-law. They are a very strong part of this and support me throughout.

In business, consider the achievements of my students as my achievements as well.

When I hear that my students are doing well locally and internationally it gives me immense satisfaction and pleasure. The long standing overseas links we maintain is an achievement. Reaching ten successful years of operations is also an achievement considering the global economic downturn and related issues.

Q. What is your contribution to society?

A. As I am into education, I am very responsible for a large number of students’ future. I help young creative minds to carve their own niche in the fashion industry locally and internationally.

Being a teacher for the past ten years, I set an example for my students to look forward for their future creativity. I conduct counselling sessions to build up their own creativity.

This I believe will enable to provide a quality product to society that will add Sri Lanka’s name into the global fashion industry.