An event titled #DesignMeetsArtisan was held in collaboration with Urban Island and hosted by Design For Sustainable Development (DFSD) Foundation at Urban Island recently. The guests were addressed by Victoria Walker, who is the Honorary President of Design For Sustainable Development Foundation. It is now eight years since DFSD was established, where supporting and nurturing the work of Sri Lankan artisans remains their core focus. The next chapter for DFSD is to focus on its mission of making an impact through design by promoting design innovation in craft and textiles alongside sustainability, sound environmental practices and female empowerment. Two extraordinary figures in the design community were also acknowledged at the event; Chandramani Thenuwara who was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Textile Institute of the UK and Shilanthi Abayagunawardane in whose honor a textile and design scholarship was established through the Foundation.
