Sri Lanka’s apparel industry reached a significant milestone by establishing its first country pavilion at Source Fashion 2026, held from January 13 to 15 at Olympia London, a premier apparel sourcing event in Europe.
The pavilion was officially opened on January 13 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by Nimal Senadheera, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK, and Lord Hannett of Everton OBE, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka. The event was graced by representatives from the apparel and fashion industry, exhibitors, invitees, and officials from the Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.
The participation of Sri Lanka was a collaborative effort by the EDB, the Sri Lankan apparel industry, and the Sri Lanka High Commission in the UK. The main objectives were to strengthen trade relations, expand buyer networks, and establish Sri Lanka as a preferred sourcing destination for the UK and European markets.
The pavilion featured twenty Sri Lankan apparel booths, including twelve from small and medium enterprises (SMEs), showcasing locally manufactured apparel, textiles, handmade products, and value-added solutions for both industrial and consumer use. The pavilion emphasized manufacturers and designers offering high-quality, ethically produced collections, with a focus on sustainability, transparency, innovation, and long-term partnerships. Exhibitors included Star Garments Group, Insomnia, J K Garments (Pvt.) Ltd, New Universe Clothing SL, Protector Clothing Manufacturers, Janasri Mills, Pridemo Apparel, Senvin Collection, True Digital Printing, Concord Manufacturing, Kobithan Garments, Hayleys Free Zone Ltd, JAS Activewear, Krisherert Holdings, Jia Moda, Randhi International, the “Creative Sri Lanka” booth, and the EDB booth.
Sri Lankan apparel was prominently featured in a series of Source Fashion Catwalk Shows, showcasing the country’s design and manufacturing capabilities alongside world-class international apparel displayed at the event. Sri Lanka’s presence at Source Fashion London 2026 was further bolstered by new trade opportunities created under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which offers zero import duty. This flexibility stems from the liberalized Rules of Origin effective from January 1, 2026, as announced by the UK, enhancing the competitiveness of Sri Lankan apparel exports in the UK market under the DCTS concessions.
Sri Lanka’s participation highlighted its growing reputation as a trusted, sustainable, resilient, and innovative apparel sourcing destination. It reflected global market expectations, evolving supply chain requirements, and the Government of Sri Lanka’s vision for export and industry promotion in international markets.
