The third annual Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) scheduled for November, features a fascinating line-up of events including a series of fashion shows. Among these, one of the most inspirational and interesting fashion shows of the festival is the Island Craft fashion show: featuring handloom, batik and beeralu lace and other crafts from across the island, and highlights the creativity and skill of each artisan community through couture collections with contemporary design input from the Academy of Design (AOD). Currently, the handloom weaving artisans in Marthamunai – Ampara and Eruvil in Batticaloa are preparing newly designed textile collections for the Island Craft fashion show at the upcoming Sri Lanka Design Festival. In the North, another group of artisans are preparing for the show in Mulaittivu with the help of the Norwegian Embassy Cultural division where AOD has conducted a design and skill development programme for 20 women and introduced them to knitwear and this too is due to be showcased as part of the island craft fashion show at the festival. Batik artisans from the central province and beeralu lace makers from Dikwella, are also preparing special collections for the fashion show. The unique textile weaving industry in Divulapitiya-Gampaha, where the use of machine thread in the handlooms to create exquisite textiles is seen, is another fascinating segment of the show. – – Read