Darshi's Profile
Darshi Keerthisena is the head of design at Buddhi Batiks, a leading proponent of the wax-resist craft of batik. She has a B.A. Hons. in fashion and textile design from the University of Central England Birmingham. Darshi is noted for pushing the Sri Lankan batik industry into the contemporary fashion market. She has injected modern design into a cottage industry long dismissed as a relic of the seventies and eighties, while still remaining true to her Sri Lankan roots. At Buddhi Batiks, the batik craft is practiced by women, some of whom have been with the workshop since the company’s inception in 1970, and whomDarshi considers the life blood of her business. The batik workshop, located in the village of Koswadiya in the tropical island of Sri Lanka, in turn plays an integral role in the economy of the village.
For her work in resuscitating a neglected craft and giving it a new direction, Darshi was named the national winner of the British Council International Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year 2008; for her work in empowering women, she received a WOMEN ON TOP award from 'Equal Ground,' an organization promoting 'equality for all sexual orientations and gender identities; Human Rights for everyone.'
As a photographer, the opportunity to create a reportage of the workshop and the talented women who work there including the chance of taking photos of the director of Design Darshi Keerthisena, in my estimation would produce a visually stunning story.
@ Orkun, thank you very much your kind comments. I have passed on your best regards to the women at the factory and they were very happy that their work was appreciated. Thanks a lot. @ Ramesh, we do not use Buddhist designs on our apparel but we do use some floral designs that draw on a similar aesthetic to what is found in Buddhist temple artwork. We also create representations of the Buddha and Buddhist stories on wall-hangings that can be displayed in a respectful way.
Dear Ms. Darshi Keerthisena, I am amazed by reading the success story of you and your work mates beginning from the village of Koswadiya. Please take good care of all those women. They transfer their beautiful artistic craftmanship on the chosen fabric with great diligence and skills. I would very much appreciate if you give my best regards to them. Thanks. Orkun
well done I love Batiks. have you looked at making some designs that are uniquely buddhist?