Designing Fashion in the Synthocene Era: The Future of Style is Here
About the Event
Fashion is no longer just about next season's trends it's about the radical transformation of style itself. The Synthocene is the new era where technology isn't a tool it's a co-creator. A design world were the synthetic and the natural coexist, and where AI and digital craftsmanship are rewriting the rules of creation and the future of style. Join this cutting-edge Future Lab session to explore the seismic shifts shaping our wardrobes and our world. Get a firsthand look beyond the runway to see how designers are crafting a post-digital aesthetic, harnessing everything from intelligent materials to virtual couture.
Time & Location
Sunday, 23rd November 2025
2.00pm - 4.30pm
At Fashion Week Lounge, Level 8
Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams
No. 02 Glennie St, Colombo 02.
Invited Speakers
Christopher Sanderson and Martin Raymond
Co-Founders of The Future Laboratory in London, one of the world’s leading trend forecasting and strategic insight consultancies.
Moderated By
Rakhil Hirdaramani
He is a Director of the Hirdaramani Group, one of Sri Lanka’s leading apparel and sustainability-driven conglomerates. A fourth-generation leader of the family business, Rakhil is at the forefront of driving innovation, ethical manufacturing, and global partnerships across the Group’s operations. With a focus on responsible growth and forward-thinking design, he represents a new wave of leadership blending tradition with modernity — ensuring the Hirdaramani legacy continues to shape the future of fashion and industry.
Panelists
Amreen Ashraf
She is a designer, researcher, and creative technologist from Sri Lanka with over 10 years of experience across diverse roles. She is passionate about Design Thinking, Strategic Foresight, and exploring future-oriented solutions through innovative design.
Mariam Ashroff Omar
She is a Sri Lankan innovator and sustainability advocate in the apparel industry. With decades of experience, she focuses on environmentally friendly manufacturing, Net-Zero Carbon initiatives, and advancing sustainable practices in design and production.
Jehan Jayasuriya
He is a Director at MAS Holdings, one of South Asia’s largest apparel and textile manufacturers, renowned globally for its innovation and commitment to sustainability. With years of experience in driving strategic growth and operational excellence, Jehan plays a key role in shaping MAS’s vision for the future — one that blends advanced manufacturing, responsible business practices, and purpose-led leadership to redefine the apparel industry in Sri Lanka and beyond.
Ruth Weerasinghe
Since being named Runner-Up at the Redress Design Award 2020 under the mentorship of Orsola de Castro, Ruth has established her sustainable fashion brand SO4, dedicated to reusing, upcycling, and recycling waste materials creatively. Her work has been showcased at Shenzhen Fashion Week SS23 and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Sri Lanka, and she has collaborated with The R Collective to design an exclusive backpack for UBS using industrial waste such as car airbags and tuk tuk covers. Ruth holds a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design and Marketing from Northumbria University through the Academy of Design in Colombo.