Designing her dream!

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

She came, she captivated the industry and she conquered it with her stunning designs. This is the story of Cheynelle Mendis, the gifted young designer who wows New York during her internship with Victoria's Secret!

A designer for MAS Design INC New York, the 28 year old had been living in Manhattan since 2010, working on the renowned brand's Effortless Casual Section which comprises basic everyday wear or technology and innovation driven garments.

Cheynelle's rendezvous with designing began at a tender age by witnessing her grandmother Barbara's nimble fingers at work. The breathtaking designs worked out by the talented dressmaker inspired the little girl and stitched out her future.

"She is whom I drew my inspiration from. I spent a lot of time with her as a kid and that is how I developed a passion for the subject," said the talented young designer who was born in Dubai. She moved back to Sri Lanka when she was four years old and schooled at Alethea International where she followed her studies in chemistry, business studies and computer science for her A Levels.

Cheynelle had graduated from Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) in 2007, completing her one year diploma and a two year advanced diploma. She had displayed her work at the Sri Lanka Design Festival and won the runner-up award for her lingerie collection 'Elevated Bohemia', which uses remnants of sari fabric from discarded sarees. She took part in the Designer of the Year competition in 2005 and was among the finalists.

"Though I got many offers from other companies I had my sights set on MAS Holdings. We have a department which works for Victoria's Secret in MAS. I got the opportunity to go to New York after working with them for two years," Cheynelle explained adding that she designed bras and panties which are later made into delicate synthetics and micro fiber garments.

"You always question how complicated bras and panties can be but you actually start to realize how much details actually go into one design. It demands a lot of thinking rather than just getting a pretty sketch done," she said.

Cheynelle's team comprises of two Sri Lankans, two Americans and a Canadian designer.

"It was really daunting for me to work in New York at first because it was a totally new environment with unfamiliar faces. However the other designers were very supportive. It was interesting to work with different kinds of people," she said.

She describes the Victoria's Secret brand as 'all things American'.

"If you walk up 34th Street at any given time you would see at least 50 people who have the Victoria's Secret bag. If a tourist visits the area it is a must for them to visit the store as it is part of the whole protocol. Nobody really knows what's Victoria's Secret really is. It is such an alluring name. It is another part of the whole mystery. What makes them special if their Angels. Everyone wants to be like one of their Angles," she gushed.

Victoria's Secret will be launching their first store in UK at store in Bond Street, England soon. Queried if their designs differ from region to region Cheynelle said that they do change the colour pallet to suite the European market. Styling and fabrication too might undergo a change, she added.

For Cheynelle the most challenge part of her journey came when she stepped into the industry and realized that though she was given the scope to go wild with creativity during her students years, the industry demands a reality check in the terms of everything being cost driven and what is in demand at the market. She had to change her entire approach to designing based on these aspects.

Her stint in New York is undecided as it all depends on how the business goes. However she also has plans to start her own uniquely designed lingerie collection once she returns to Sri Lanka.