By Tina Edward Gunawardhana

For years, Gayantha Perera — better known in fashion circles as stylist.lk — has been the invisible hand behind some of Sri Lanka’s most striking menswear moments. From high-profile editorial shoots to celebrity appearances and luxury campaigns, he has built a reputation as one of the country’s most sought-after stylists, trusted by discerning clients who want to project confidence, polish, and individuality. Now, after more than a decade of shaping how other men dress, he has stepped into a new role: designer, with the launch of his menswear label ELUSIV.

The label arrives with a clear point of view — elevated menswear rooted in Sri Lankan craftsmanship yet unapologetically modern in expression. Its debut collection centres on silk batik shirts, each piece individually created and intentionally one of a kind, bringing together abstract motifs, carefully considered silhouettes, and a luxury finish aimed at the contemporary man.
For Gayantha, the move from styling to design feels less like a dramatic shift and more like the natural continuation of a journey already in motion.

“As a stylist, I constantly have these moments of not finding what I am envisioning for my clients,” he explains. “I am so lucky that I get to turn to the great fashion houses of Sri Lanka for couture or something custom-made, but they shy away from a request for a male client more often than not. At that moment, I am compelled to find some fabric, find a tailor, and execute something perfect for the requirement.”

That improvisation, repeated over years of styling demanding shoots and appearances, quietly became a parallel practice. “For the past decade, I’ve been quietly offering a nameless solution like this to my clients, or as the need arose around a campaign or special media appearance for a celebrity,” he says. “After hearing many requests for similar one-time creations, or where they can be purchased from, I’m feeling fairly confident about a clothing line I can take my time with. ELUSIV really feels like the gradual next step in my journey as a stylist.” 

The decision to launch the first collection in batik was deliberate. Sri Lanka’s batik heritage has evolved dramatically in recent years, moving from craft into luxury territory, yet Gayantha felt men were still underserved when it came to bold, premium pieces.

“Batik has risen to a point where it can be considered a premium offering for any occasion,” he says. “Most connoisseurs and collectors are considered patrons of a local handicraft, but that rarely translates to the menswear items that are available. The super luxury look and feel of silk batik, beautiful bold designs, and one-of-a-kind masterpieces are all factors that I feel men would gravitate towards themselves, but I’ve rarely seen them available for purchase.”

That rarity is part of ELUSIV’s appeal. Every shirt is produced as a singular piece because silk batik, by its very nature, resists duplication.

“No two pieces of fabric will come out the same,” he says. “You can use stencils, try to use the same wax, measure the same dye, follow written instructions so precisely, and still end up with very unique results each time. I love that each product we create will end up differently because of this.”

Rather than seeing these irregularities as flaws, he embraces them as part of the garment’s character. “Each final result is akin to art for me — handmade, only for the person lucky enough to purchase that item. The faults become like inclusions in natural gemstones.” 

The prints themselves emerged through close collaboration with artisans. Early ideas leaned heavily towards traditional motifs and foliage patterns, before evolving into something more pared back and abstract.

“We started with an idea for foliage patterns and traditional designs that we were going to use as inspiration,” he explains, “but decided on minimal abstract patterns inspired by nature and simpler foliage designs as they were well received by our sample customer group.”

That process also involved testing fabrics extensively before settling on a silk with enough structure to withstand production demands while retaining luxury appeal. “The artisans shared the pitfalls and complexities of my requests, and we weighed all the options before finalising a masculine colour palette,” he says.

Global fashion awareness has also shaped the line, though Gayantha is careful not to chase trends too literally.

“Sri Lanka is at a point where global trends on fit and colour could be here in less than three weeks,” he says with a smile. “Demand is a good way to measure the pulse, but since ELUSIV is built on the principle of being above the norm, we try to be inspired by trends but never follow them verbatim.”

The result is a collection built around a timeless fit rather than seasonal novelty. “I’ve taken great care in adjusting our standard sizes for a timeless fit, so you’re definitely going to be tempted to reach for the item more often than not.”

That philosophy connects directly to how he defines the ELUSIV wearer.

“I would like to think that the ELUSIV man is someone who has a clear objective when they dress up or dress down: make a statement,” he says. “Every item I’ve crafted exudes a certain confidence that draws attention effortlessly. The ELUSIV man is certainly easy to spot.” 

It is, unsurprisingly, also a reflection of his own wardrobe philosophy.
“I’ll never make an item of clothing I wouldn’t wear myself,” he says. “It’s honestly getting very difficult to part with some of them.”

Yet beyond aesthetics, ELUSIV is being built with clear ethical commitments from its earliest stage. Sustainability is central, not as branding language but as production policy.
“As ELUSIV is in its infancy, I am at the perfect place to figure these vital factors in a fashion brand and make commitments to minimize the damages it can cause to the world around us, protect traditional craftsmanship as well as sustain it for a few more generations to come,” he says.

The label currently operates a zero-waste policy, with leftover fabric being repurposed into future experimental products. “Even fabric scraps are being repurposed to create other experimental items we hope to announce later in the year,” he reveals.

He also places emphasis on longevity — an idea shaped by personal experience. “Growing up in a middle-income household, the longevity of an item was always important to me. With the right aftercare, I can easily see each item we create become archival pieces that can be handed down.”
As Sri Lankan menswear begins to explore bolder cultural expression, Gayantha sees opportunity rather than limitation.

“Sri Lanka is slowly discovering its cultural identity can have a more liberated expression of how it can dress,” he says. “What sets ELUSIV apart will always be its fashion-forward, timeless statement-piece approach.”

For now, the focus remains firmly local: refining shirts, expanding associated products, and building trust in a market where menswear still demands reliability.
“A comprehensive menswear line is a less explored territory for local brands,” he says. “International conquest is clearly on the plans, but a solid local base is my focus for now.” 

For a stylist long known for dressing other men to stand out, ELUSIV marks the moment Gayantha Perera steps fully into view — not simply as a tastemaker, but as a designer intent on giving Sri Lankan menswear a more confident future.