10+ Sri Lankan Brands You Need To Know

Lois London

Things are slowly shifting across the world to regain a different kind of normalcy, and while restrictions lift and change, we still have to adhere to some basic rules. Keep washing your hands, wear your face masks when you go out and socially distance because we aren't in the clear yet. 

Since summer is here as well and the prospect of travelling is not truly in the cards, I wanted to focus on supporting my local community. I'm currently in Sri Lanka, and honestly, there's no better place to be. With that in mind, I wanted to think about ways I can support businesses or people here during this time. And as everyone's moving with a little more freedom of movement, it may just be an excuse to update your wardrobe. So I wanted to share some Sri Lankan brands that I found and that have been suggested to me that are just too stunning to not support.

*All images sourced via Instagram & Brand sites*

 

Persona Apparel

I thought it would be perfect to start with Persona because we still need to stay safe, protect ourselves and others, so why not invest in a mask. My friend, Mehr, actually shared this brand with me and I'm glad she did. These face masks are washable, reusable and far cooler than those medical ones. You can also get delivery island wide too! Also, they are super affordable and come in various designs!

 

Aadna Jewellery

My mum actually found this one while scrolling through Instagram (thank you promotions/adverts). I was instantly drawn to the brand because of their dainty gold chain pieces, but as I scrolled further through their Instagram, the list of pieces I suddenly wanted started to add up. It's truly a brand to buy staple jewellery pieces from that you can stack and mix and match with.

 

Maus

I discovered Maus by the PR boutique here in Sri Lanka and I'm so glad I did. The brand has clothing, swimwear, footwear and accessories ranges that are stunning and on-trend. In statement solid colours, their clothing line allows for versatile wear and accessorising. Some of my favourite pieces have to be the Classic Shirt Dress and Lace Up Heels that I need to get my hands on immediately. 

  

Lois London

I cannot express how much I love the pieces from this brand, they are absolutely stunning. Designer Radhika Perera-Hernandez, like me, is a British-born Sri Lankan who's style influenced by both the East and West. Her gowns are extremely elegant and perfect for any major occasion you have coming up. A piece that you have to check out is the Endless Dress - with detachable and adjustable straps, it can be worn in countless ways for multiple stylings so you'll never get bored. 

  

Anuk

Another brand that was both recommended to me and that I found on PR. Anuk is such a beautiful brand with gorgeous silhouettes that are perfect for island life. I love their aesthetic and the simplicity of their clothing that allows for dynamic and multiple wear. I also adore that they describe themselves as designing their brand around "lazy elegance" and there's nothing more that I relate to. That's all I have to say. 

  

 

The Design Collective

Okay if you want to find a range of Sri Lankan brands/designers, The Design Collective is most definitely one of the first places you should try. With over 50 Sri Lankan and South Asian brands across the board of clothing, accessories and beauty, you'll find something for you. Some of the brands that I have to mention are; 

Nika by Rukshani

Ilena The Label

Pigeon Island Swimwear

Seda

Aquilla Swimwear

Maia

The Silk Body

Coast Botanics

Iris Garden

I've tried and tested Iris Garden's Fuller's Earth Facial Pack and I love it. It was so beneficial when my skin was having an awful time with breakouts and pigmentation and I still use it now on a regular basis. It's 100% Vegetarian and organic, as well as suitable for all skin types. It's a mixture of Fuller's Earth (a flour mix), Turmeric and Gram Flour and you mix it with water for a really easy face mask. You can also mix it with things like coconut water, almond milk, rose water or honey and curd - depending on the texture you want. It's a great mask and for that reason I know that I would trust all their products. It's great value for money and perfect for all the natural beauty lovers out there.

 

Absolute

If there's anything we should and can have endless of amounts of, it's wardrobe basics. Absolute is a brand that focuses on the essentials such as T-shirts, shirts and dresses in versatile colours and styles. Baring in mind that I need to add some new basics into my wardrobe, I'm going to start here. Of course the t-shirts are the first thing that drew my eye to this brand, but I also really love their slip dress as well because I could definitely see myself living in it - just hanging out at home but need to be dressed? Put on the slip. A casual lunch? Wear the slip. Dinner and you've got nothing to wear? Jazz up the slip. I always find that essentials and basics like these have limitless uses and give you all the more reason to purchase one (or multiple). 

 

 

Nakota Tuwa

Another brand that I found on Instagram and that I'm now obsessed with is Nakota Tuwa. It's the perfect brand for Island wear; floaty, comfy looking silhouettes that make you want to be by the beach all day. They have women and menswear, so there's something for everyone in classic styles and colours that allow for versatile wear. Their maxi dresses have caught my eye and I want every single one. These are styles that my mum and I wear on a regular basis, so of course I am in love. They also have yoga wear pieces that are so cute.

 

 

Duduchava

I swear, Instagram just knows what I'm looking for because I keep finding gorgeous brands that I hadn't heard of! Duduchava is a super sweet brand that creates pieces perfect for island life. Their current collection is dedicated to "home", designed and inspired by lockdown with navy & off-white pieces made from what looks like super comfy organic cotton. The other piece that I came across from the brand that I'm truly obsessed with is the Noémie dress - and you will see why. It's such a stunning on trend dress with this gorgeous gathered design to one side. Yeah, so I'm in love with that piece. Such a gorgeous brand that you have to check out!

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These are simply a few out of countless brands that are born in Sri Lankan or by Sri Lankans. I have loved finding them and sharing with you. We all know about the high street and designer brands that everyone shops from, but it's also nice to look at brands that are locally designed and developed. So wherever you are in the world, find those smaller businesses that you can support right now when they probably need it most! And if you're in Sri Lanka, check out these brands and if you already know of some that I haven't included, please send them through to me! I'd love to know as many as I can. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Hoping you're staying safe and well!

Lots of Love, 

Emily xx