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by Anusha David

I first met Kirthi when I was a teenager many moons ago. I was confronted with this debonair, elegant, dashing man who was surrounded by a bevy of well dressed women at the Lionel Wendt. Being clad in cut off jeans and a T' shirt, I whispered to one of my friends "who is that?". "It's Kirthi Sri Karunaratne, the famous designer - don't you know? He puts everyone in the papers!" "Oh", I said quite impressed.

Later on in the evening we were introduced by Manik Sandrasagara, yet another flamboyant and colourful character and that was the beginning of a friendship which has lasted well over 25 years and many many happy hours spent with Kirthi talking on a variety of subjects, seeking his advice and generally chatting, while feasting on hakuru mas, meat seeni sambol, sardine bathun and other delicacies prepared by old 'Jane Amme', Kirthi's devoted maid.

Kirthi has advised me on clothes, make up and hair, dressed me as a bride, persuaded me to wear my first Kandyan sari despite my protests of being too short (a constant complaint to him), given me advice on how to get my very own dress boutique off the ground (by the way it still hasn't) and above all been a true friend, providing me with a shoulder to cry on whenever I needed it. Kind, considerate, amazingly generous, Kirthi is that rare phenomenon a gentleman and a truly good human being!

This was amply proven when over 500 of his admirers and friends (there would have been 5,000 had the Hilton ballroom been able to accommodate them) gathered to pay tribute to him at a fashion show celebrating Kirthi's 50 years in the Sri Lankan fashion scene.

Presented by 'Vati' and Nela de Zoysa, together with Sri Lanka's leading fashion designers and hair stylists, it was a fitting tribute to a man who single handedly set trends and created not just fashion, but a whole new perception of both fashion and women.

He redesigned the traditional sari restyling and redraping it. His Kandyan saris remain unsurpassed, while his magic touch transformed and continues to transform even the ugliest of ducklings into veritable swans.

Brides and Grooms of yesteryear, brides present and brides to be formed a large part of the audience, as it is no exaggeration to say that Kirthi has dressed everyone who is anyone in local society. In fact the evening commenced with six young girls wending their very first tentative footsteps down the catwalk, clad in six breathtaking bridal collections designed by Kirthi, starting with that of Padmini Pilapitiya 46 years ago.

Mano Chanmugam and Goolbai Gunasekere gave a brief introduction to the show which was spiced with several anecdotes of Kirthi which spanned the years. This was followed by designer saris (both Kandyan and Indian), shalwars and western attire by Padma Maharaja, Mano Caderampanpulle, Aldo Perera and Nayantara Fonseka, while Hair stylist Lou Ching Wong, Ramanie Fernando, Nayana Karunaratne, Ramzi Rahaman, Rumours and Johann of Cutting Station, swept the audience into the world of fantasy with their exotic, imaginative and futuristic creations. Tami, Kolu and Indu provided rib tickling entertainment for the evening by way of two skits which had the audience in fits of laughter, while choreography was by Geraldine Bandaranayake, with beautiful floral arrangements by Janaki de Zoysa of Flowers of Summer.

Kumar de Silva was the host for the evening and held at the evening's proceedings together in his own inimitable style. The model's hair and make up was by Ramanie Fernando Salons, while all the models provided their service gratis in recognition of Kirthi's long and distinguished service to the fashion industry Otara Chandiram made a brief though welcome appearance on the catwalk, once again as a tribute to the maestro, and a gourmet dinner and choice wines combined to make it a perfect evening.

The tributes paid to Kirthi, lead by Dr. Preethi Wijegoonewardene who proposed the toast, the numerous people who had flown down especially for the show, the speed with which the tickets were sold (without a single advertisement), the enthusiasm and dedication displayed by the organisers and all those involved with this spectacular event, all prove just one thing; the fact that Kirthi is loved, respected and admired by all who know him.

He is the one person I know who will never say anything negative about anyone and if he has to, it is to their face and is given as advice. Should anyone speak unkindly of another person in his presence, Kirthi will immediately spring to that person's defence and admonish them to make their criticism to the person concerned and not to the world at large; a rare trait indeed. I have never known Kirthi to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those who came to him for help, often at great cost to himself. As for billing his clients, well Kirthi shrugs his shoulders, smiles and says "pay me anything you want"!

Had Kirthi decided to remain in one of the great fashion capitals of the world his name would today be on par with those of Dior, Givenchy, Valentino and the likes, thankfully for us women he came back to Sri Lanka, and I for one am so very glad that he did.

How does one sum up Kirthi the fashion designer, gourmet chef, actor and extrovert who is out partying several nights of the week, the true friend who has a heart of gold and the simple man clad in a sarong and bare bodies who likes nothing better than to read a book in peace and quiet; it's very simple, he is an extraordinary human being!

Many are the articles that have been written over the last two weeks, by journalists of repute. This does not pretend to be an article written by a professional instead it is written from the heart as a tribute to someone who is very special not just to me but to hundreds of people.

Kirthi we drink a toast to you as you celebrate 50 years in the fashion industry and wish you many more happy years of making us women 'the epitome of fashion'.

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