Nine years.
It’s a meaningful time in almost every aspect of one’s life, be it a partnership, friendship, or a foundation of something one has built for themselves.
For Shahili Gomes and Binu Wickramasinghe, co-founders of The Design Collective Store, these nine years mark a celebration of all those things, and so much more.
The super-pair launched The Design Collective (TDC) back in 2017 with the shared belief that Sri Lanka deserved a space where fashion, design, and art could meet. And over the course of almost a decade, these friends turned business partners have proved (time and again) what the power of a strong design concept and independent creativity can do.
So of course, the occasion of TDC turning nine couldn’t go unmarked. They duo is celebrating with the opening of its new SEED space, marking the beginning of a whole new chapter. The new addition revolves around the company’s core belief: fashion is better when it creates room for other people to grow.
While The Design Collective started in Colombo as a platform for independent designers, we’ve evolved into a fashion centre for ideas, shopping, collaboration, and (our favourite) conversation. What continues to drive us is the astonishing community of designers, customers like you, creative partners, and our own team who truly believe that this paradise island has a place on the global fashion map.
The Women Shaping TDC
It’s particularly fitting that The Design Collective’s ninth anniversary is all about women empowerment. Women have always been instrumental in shaping the store and the community around it. We’re so excited to be celebrating them this month.
Navya
Navya is a brand started by sisters Munawara (Muna) and Sulthana (Suly) Cader. They saw an opportunity to create contemporary occasion bags that retained a connection to craftsmanship. And they turned that simple observation into one of Sri Lanka’s most recognisable accessory labels.
Jodi
Founded by Gauri Verma and Karuna Laungani, Jodi is a contemporary Indian label. Their shared appreciation for craft transformed this brand into one that’s celebrated internationally for its distinctive prints, playful contrasts and modern approach to Indian fashion.
The Design Collective Store
And of course, we cannot forget about TDC. This brainchild of Binu and Shahili continues to drive Sri Lanka’s fashion scene forward. It’s slowly but surely transformed into space that fosters creativity, respects designs, and promotes South Asian craftsmanship.
The stories are different, but the underlying ambition is eerily similar.
A Community We’ve Built Together
The Design Collective’s story cannot be told without the designers who have passed through its doors. Some arrived with established names, others with little more than a strong point of view and the courage to build something of their own.
This is why the next phase in our journey is about investing in the very people behind it.
A key part of this year’s anniversary programme is a Designer Development Workshop, created for creatives at different stages of their journeys–be it those starting out or the well-known names who want to scale up. Across a weekend of sessions, designers will explore the practical side of building a creative business, including branding, marketing, customer experience and business development.
We want to offer independent designers and thinkers more than shelf space. We want to share our knowledge, open doors, and create opportunities for designers to build businesses that last.
Join us on Sunday, 23rd August, for a session of learning, collaboration, and inspiration as we invest in the future of Sri Lanka’s creative community.
Session 1 | 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Build a Fashion Brand Customers Remember
Learn how to build a distinctive, memorable brand that stands out and stays with your customers.
Session 2 | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
Create Customer Experiences That Grow Your Brand
Explore how thoughtful customer experiences can build loyalty, drive growth and turn customers into long-term advocates.
Nine Years, A Milestone
The anniversary celebration will also include the exclusive collection launch of Soqka. A local Sri Lankan brand featuring batik printing, the design principles of its founder Divya Pradeep are visible in each of their pieces. The brand aims to add value to the island’s local batik craftsmanship while giving them a new, modern life.
But perhaps the most exciting part of nine years is actually what comes next for us.
The new SEED space represents an expansion of TDC’s role from retailer to enabler, from fashion destination to a designer hub. This will soon become a space where creative businesses can learn, connect, and grow.
Because as we’ve learned over the course of the last decade, Sri Lanka’s thriving fashion industry isn’t built by individual brands but rather the community that stands behind it. The Design Collective Store is thrilled to share ideas, champion local talent, and create opportunities for the next generation of designers and thought-leaders.