An evening of creativity, innovation and elegance unfolded at the Grand Marquee, Taj Samudra Colombo, as the grand finale of the highly anticipated ChoKoLAATe Mother-Daughter Fashion Designer (MDFD) 2026 competition concluded in spectacular style.
Bringing together some of Sri Lanka’s most promising emerging designers, the event once again reinforced MDFD’s position as one of the country’s leading platforms for discovering and nurturing future fashion talent.
Founded by Michelle Gunesekara, Managing Director of ChoKoLAATe Magazine, MDFD has spent the past 16 years empowering young designers by providing a platform to showcase creativity, develop skills and gain valuable exposure within the fashion industry.
Celebrating the unique bond between mothers and daughters, the competition challenges participants to create coordinated collections across casual wear, sportswear and evening wear categories, with designs presented by real-life mother-daughter duos.
Following months of portfolio assessments, workshops, mentoring sessions and preliminary rounds, finalists presented collections that reflected exceptional creativity, technical ability and artistic expression. The grand finale showcased a wide range of inspirations and design approaches, highlighting the growing strength of Sri Lanka’s emerging fashion scene.
The evening’s top honour was awarded to Niki Vagail, who was crowned ChoKoLAATe Mother-Daughter Fashion Designer 2026. Her winning collection impressed the judges with its originality, craftsmanship and sophisticated design approach.
Ashen Rishmal was named First Runner-Up, while Lavanya Dissanayake secured the Second Runner-Up title, with both designers earning recognition for their distinctive concepts and innovative fashion storytelling.
The competition also celebrated excellence across individual categories, with Ashen Rishmal winning Best Casual Wear Collection, Dulini Withanage receiving Best Sportswear Collection, and Lavanya Dissanayake securing Best Evening Wear Collection for her outstanding creativity and versatility.
Lavanya Dissanayake was further recognised with the prestigious Shantanu & Nikhil Scholarship, offering an opportunity for continued growth and international fashion exposure. Meanwhile, overall winner Niki Vagail received the coveted Charini Internship, providing valuable industry experience, mentorship and professional development.
Through its continued commitment to encouraging creativity and innovation, ChoKoLAATe MDFD remains a significant platform shaping the future of Sri Lankan fashion.