Niro & Nelo:

LIFT designer wear showcasing original styles

Demi Hewamanna

Niro and Nelo - is the latest label to enter the fashion boutique and industry of Sri Lanka. This new label under the concept of 'express yourself through creative clothing', is the brainchild of two sisters who wanted to bring out the true tastes and styles of the students of Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) and give them a chance to showcase their designs.

Niroshani (Niro) Leanage is not a name that is new to ears. She is the Managing Director of LIFT and has a career in designing from 11 years back She teaches fashion designing while forming the LIFT Overseas Study Placement Centre making it a link way for students to gain international scholarships to universities abroad and finish their degrees there.

"Fashion is my passion", Niroshani said. This boutique has students design, produce and develop their work and creativity. Plans are being made to students who are linked with Universities in United Kingdom to come down and work with us in October, she added.

Neloni (Nilo) Leanage is the younger sister of Niroshani and she is the opposite of her sister. Her passion was in the airline industry for the past ten years.

"I have being looking forward to come down for good after living in Oman for five years", Neloni added. I have invested into this business as I find it very industry and I am looking forward to work with the LIFT students and looking after the production and sales of the boutique.

Located down Horton Place, the boutique hosts a variety of ladies wears from dresses, skirts, slacks, blouses in the form of casual, formal and evening wear with a selected range of men's wear as well.

Along with Niroshani, there are three other assistant designers - Charitha Fernando, Shehani Fernando and Ramyani Rathnayake - who help to take the creations of LIFT forward. This is a stepping stone for students who have graduated from LIFT to introduce their new labels through the LIFT Designer Wear.