Of sarees, travel and art

When Shimna Chandan attended a formal event wearing a dress by Sri Lankan designer Sonali Dharmawardena, she not only received numerous compliments for its uniqueness but was questioned on whether she was wearing someone famous like Versace. That memory was one of the many forces that drew her to launch Tambapanni Collective, a platform dedicated to showcasing luxury brands from Sri Lanka.

“When I recognised colleagues and friends taking an interest in Sri Lankan designers, art and wellness, I was keen to create a platform to make them easily available to a larger and more international audience,” says Sri Lanka-born but Singapore-based Chandan.