Niroshani Leanage - Director for studies

Ashwini Amalean

Minele Lowe

Amarsha De Silva

"From the day one I entered the fashion industry I was inspired to create future designers and make opportunities open for many creative lives than just designing garments. Nurturing young talent with creative and technical aspects of fashion design that leads to many career pathways is the main focus of LIFT from its inception in the year 2000." Niroshani Leanage - director for studies, LIFT
Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) is registered under the tertiary and vocational education commission and is linked with the University of Northampton - UK, Robert Gordon University - Scotland and Raffles Education network - Singapore. LIFT continues to offer many subject areas related to fashion design. It is large enough to offer a wide range of facilities for fashion education with specialized infrastructure and small enough to offer a friendly atmosphere with limited number of students per batch to provide individual attention. Creating one's own signature is carefully planned with a balance of variety of subjects. Students after O/L's or A/L's have the fulltime study opportunity and the employed individuals can gain their knowledge and the qualifications during Saturdays. Each student has the opportunity to decide up to which level he/she would prefer to study according to their future requirements. Some real life stories will expand the success of the mission of LIFT.

Minele Lowe (Head Designer - Carezza)

''As a child I often accompanied myself with dolls. I spend hours making creative clothes and hair styles for them. I was with them in my world of fantasy. Later it became my dream, career aspiration, and my goal. When I grew older I realized that 'fashion' is the call for me. I understood that the business world today is more complex. This complexity requires more education, and with that in mind, I joined Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology which is the premier fashion designing school in the island since its existence.

I successfully completed my first year Diploma in Fashion Designing with a 1st class at LIFT and I further continued my studies to the next level, Advance Diploma in Fashion Designing where I was able to explore the world of fashion in more depth and experiment it practically. The time I spent in classrooms were not wasted for a second. Lessons were useful and enjoyable. The activity I enjoyed most was the time we started the Final major Project, which was also the turning point in my career.

Being inspired by the ability to blend creativity together with theoretical knowledge kindled by management skills in terms of organization and relations with the customers, I am self motivated to explore the world of Fashion Designing into the depth. When I was looking for opportunity to expand this wondrous inborn talent with an organization where I can be best exposed to and creativity is best benefited form, I was introduced by the institute (LIFT) to the Director of the Ability Foundation in Sri Lanka and the founder of the brand "Carezza". It is a new company that offers women in Sri Lanka, America, and Europe an exclusive wardrobe of designer clothes made from the finest materials. Currently I'm working as the head designer where I will be doing my best to make Carezza a success.''

Ashwini Amalean (Designer/ Entrepreneur)

"I came to Sri Lanka in the year 2000 and attained my Diploma in Fashion designing during the year 2004 at L I F T (Lanka Institute of Fashion designing). The course I followed covered Designing, Merchandising, Pattern making etc. After completing the course I started designing & making garments for my friends and individual clients. Initially designing & making of kaftans with lot of embroidery and embellishments was the first products I made and I got a good response for this. This went on for more than a year. I started to add more items for ladies into my product range and eventually all efforts led to the creation of a brand label "ASH". Today a company has been created to market superior designs and superior quality ladies wear under the brand "ASH". ASH creates emotional connections with customers through internationally inspiring product design and quality standards. In the future we are working on strengthening the brand. LIFT has played an important role in shaping the companies goals.''

Amarsha De Silva (Designer - MAS)

"Life for me has always been about Art. Growing up with an artist grandfather late Kalabhushana H.G. Samaradasa Muthuhewa in an artistic environment. So it is from my early childhood that I was inspired into designing. Even as a student at school, Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy, I was involved in creative activities and had held many art exhibitions. Among them were AYA 2004 organized by Alliance Francaise de Kandy and Ridma Sankalana 06.

My 1st achievement on stage was when I was placed as the 2nd runner up at the Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the year 2007, contest. I realized that the subject element in design is just not merely a pleasure of art, but it is unique and has to be studied in depth. LIFT provided me a solid start with knowledge intellectual, conceptual and technical skills in the 1st academic year itself.

I'm not taken aback if I have to comment on the high quality of education the students receive at LIFT. Today I'm proud to be what I am and for the achievements that I have received for which I'm grateful and thankful to my company MAS (Silueta Pvt Ltd) for the sponsorships provided in my academic and professional areas and today I contribute my talent and knowledge as a designer at MAS. "

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