There is something quite interesting about Vishan Gunawardena. If you know him from theatre, you know there is a side of him that loves the stage, the characters and the drama of it all. But when it comes to his work as a designer, there is a beautiful sense of restraint. His creations are minimalistic, elegant and incredibly detailed, proving that sometimes you don’t need to shout to make an impression.

Vishan is also one of those genuinely good guys who seems happiest creating away from all the noise. From bridal couture to eveningwear and costume design, there is a quiet confidence in what he does. Behind every piece is an obsession with fit, finish and those tiny details that can completely transform a look. So, for Buzz with Danu, I wanted to get to know the man who loves the stage but prefers to let his designs take the spotlight.

1. Vishan, you’re quite mysterious for someone working in an industry that loves attention. Is staying private a conscious choice, or are you simply an introvert who would rather let the clothes do the talking?

It is a conscious choice. I don’t know if I would say I’m an introvert, however, I love creating quietly & I hope each piece we create makes the desired effect, effortlessly.

2. Your designs have a very refined, tasteful quality never screaming for attention, but somehow still commanding it. How would you describe the Vishan Gunawardena aesthetic?

In the design process, I focus alot on the details. Our design aesthetic is very much driven by it, & changes with our muse to bring out what she desires. But I would say, the fit, quality & the finish of each piece is not a compromise we make.

3. Take me back to the beginning. When did fashion go from being something you admired to something you knew you wanted to create?

Since I was two to three years old according to my mother. I remember making dresses for my sister’s barbie dolls out of chocolate wrappers when I was very young boy. Ever since those days, I loved drawing dresses whenever I get a chance. I loved fashion & design as long as I can remember, it feels like the most natural thing to me.

4. You’re also a great lover of theatre. What is it about theatre that fascinates you, and how much of that drama, storytelling and character finds its way into your designs?

A lot fascinates me in theatre. The stage feels like a second home at this point. When I design for a play, alot of the design is driven by the character & what the director & actors are trying to convey. Again, it could be just a simple detail, but generally in costume design, a good use of a colour palette is a integral part to convey emotions or character is what I believe.

5. When you meet a client for the first time, what are you actually looking at their body, their personality, their confidence, or the person they secretly want to become?

With Bridals & eveningwear, I always strive to bring out the person she is. It’s always inspiring to dress a confident personality that knows what she wants, or has the trust in us to create something for her that brings out who she is. My favourite moment is when our client can’t take her eyes off herself on how great she looks in something we created for her. It’s the moment that makes all the effort we put in worth it.

6. Bridal wear can sometimes become predictable, but your work seems to have its own identity. How do you make a bride feel timeless without making her look like every other bride?

It’s by keeping it unique to her. One day when she looks back at what she wore on her wedding day, that should be a fond memory. I love creating with that thought in mind.

7. What is one fashion trend everyone seems to love that you secretly wish would disappear?

I don’t follow trends alot, that’s not my thing. However, ‘fast fashion’ is an entity I’m not a fan of. I love when people took care of their clothes & gave so much thought and care for its upkeep, making something last a lifetime & more by caring for what they wore.

8. Designers are often their own worst critics. Have you ever completed a dress everyone loved while you were standing there thinking, “I could have done that better”?

Of course. I’m sure most creative people have been there. But it’s important to finish the piece to your standard given the circumstances, & allowing yourself to learn from it, if it didn’t go as planned. Sometimes, creativity happens best in those moments.

9. You seem to favour elegance over excess. In an era of Instagram fashion, where louder often gets more attention, is restraint becoming a lost art?

I feel it is, to each their own & there are many forms of fashion catered towards each individual. However, I love taking time to think about what I’m creating, perfect it to the best of my abilities. This is why I find creating quietly very therapeutic & a luxury.

10. If you were given an unlimited budget to costume one theatrical production—local or international which production would you choose, and what would Vishan do with it?

An unlimited budget is something unheard of, especially in theatre. However, hypothetically I would love to design & create the costumes for Into the woods, it’s one of my favourite musicals. I feel that play has characters we all know & grew up with, but I think I could create something unique & would love the challenge to give it my own twist.

11. We see the beautiful finished garment, but rarely the madness behind it. What is Vishan like when a fitting goes wrong, a deadline is approaching and something simply refuses to work?

A blob of stress at first, mostly internalised. But after a breather, I see how each task could be achieved by breaking them down to smaller parts & delegation. My team has been with me through tough times where the workload is heavy & so many things happen at once. Eventually we’ve always managed. But it is a hectic moment when time is not a luxury we are given in some cases.

12. You’ve built your name rather quietly, without constantly putting yourself at the centre of the brand. So what’s the bigger dream for Vishan Gunawardena and how much of that dream are you still keeping secret from us?

I think I’m living a big part of that dream now. I think the young boy who dressed barbies long ago would be glad with where we are now. But yes, there is a lot of growth we are yet to achieve & we’re quietly working our way to make those bigger dreams a reality.

13. Bridal wear seems to be a big part of your work, but you also have the creative freedom of couture. If you had to choose, which excites you more creating that once-in-a-lifetime bridal look, or pushing your imagination further with couture pieces and prints?

Bridal in itself is couture. Alot of hand-made elements come together to create the final piece. I’m glad I’m blessed to have the freedom of choice to do both if I like. But there is something special in creating a Bridal look. Each bride is unique, gives us the need to do something different to make her wedding day that much special. My imagination will always run wild to keep creating, but our restraint eventually brings out some of our best work to create that unique piece our muse can shine in.