Isle of Rataa x Sahesh by IoR is where island vibes meet fierce fashion – and honestly, it’s giving everything we need right now! Behind the magic are Nilusha Shivaraj and Heshani Bogollogama – two powerhouse women who basically said, “Sri Lankan fashion deserves a global runway… and we’re bringing it!”

From breezy resort wear that makes you want to pack your bags and escape to the Maldives, to those drop-dead-gorgeous pieces that scream main character energy – these brands are all about confidence, colour, and a little bit of sass.

On Buzz with Danu today, I’m sitting down with Nilusha & Heshani to spill the chai on building two killer labels, staying inspired, and proving that Sri Lankan fashion can be both local and luxe. 

1. What inspired you to start Isle of Rataa and Sahesh by IOR? Was there a defining moment or experience that made you decide to launch?
Isle of Rataa (IoR) started in 2020, right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, born from our love for Sri Lankan handicrafts and our passion for working with local artisans. During that time, many of our artisans were struggling because tourism, which was their main source of income, had completely stopped. That’s when the idea came to us: what if we took their incredible skills and brought them into a new space, like homeware? We were all stuck at home for months on end, and we kept thinking, why shouldn’t our homes feel beautiful with functional works of art?

A few years later, in 2023, Sahesh by IoR was born out of another love of ours — jewellery. Sri Lanka has such a rich jewellery heritage, with styles and traditions that differ across the island. We wanted to take that history and make it part of everyday life, creating jewellery that feels both modern and wearable, while still carrying the soul of our culture.

2. “Traditional handmade crafts with a modern twist” is a tagline I saw—can you share how you strike the balance between preserving tradition and innovating?
The craft behind our products is rooted in traditions that have been passed down through generations of artisan families. We take this specialised skillset and reimagine it by creating pieces that are not only beautiful to look at but also practical in everyday life. In doing so, we keep these age-old crafts alive while giving them a place in the modern world.

3. Can you walk us through the journey of a product—from concept to finished piece? For example, what steps are involved in creating a hand-engraved brass jewellery piece?
When it comes to jewellery design, every line we create begins with a story. We always ask ourselves, which part of Sri Lanka’s heritage are we trying to showcase here? That becomes our starting point. From there, our designers take the tradition and push it forward, creating pieces that feel fresh, unique, and meaningful for our customers.

Once the design is ready, we sit down with our artisans to bring it to life. Sometimes, a single piece of jewellery can involve multiple artisans, each contributing their own specialised skill. And before it reaches our customers, every piece goes through careful quality checks to make sure it carries the standard and soul we stand for.

4. How do you source your materials, and what criteria do you use (e.g. sustainability, quality, local vs imported)?
All of our products are 100% handmade right here in Sri Lanka, using materials sourced locally. For example, our palmyrah products are made by the leaves that come from palmyrah trees that grow in the Northern Province, meanwhile our talipot products are made from the leaves of tala tree that can be found in Sabaragamuwa or North WesternProvince.

5. How do you come up with new collections or designs? Is there a design philosophy, seasonal inspiration, or collaborative process with artisans?
Of course, some of our designs are inspired by a seasonal aspect, such as Avurudu or Christmas. However, our main inspiration is Sri Lankan flora and fauna for Isle of Rataa and Sri Lankan heritage for Sahesh by IoR. 

When we first started, especially with our batik homeware, we would share our ideas with the artisans and then let them interpret them in their own way. After all, every one of our artisans is an artist, and it was fascinating to see how differently each of them brought the same concept to life.
Now, we also have a team of designers working closely with us. They design the products, meet with the artisans, and collaborate to ensure each idea can come to life using traditional techniques. It’s a collaborative process, blending creativity and craftsmanship together.

6. Which piece(s) are you most proud of so far, and why? (Could be for craftsmanship, story, or impact.)
Lately, what we’re most excited and proud about is our new Sahesh collection, especially the two standout pieces, the Makara Mala and the Binara Mal set. This collection was truly a team effort. From our designers sketching the first ideas to the many artisans who each added their craft and skill, every detail was a collaboration. And when it all came together, these pieces carried a special kind of energy. Seeing them shine on the Ramp Up 2025 stage was one of those moments that reminded us why we do what we do.

7. How does Sahesh by IOR differ in design and target audience from Isle of Rataa’s other offerings?
What sets Sahesh by IoR apart is its focus on artisanal jewellery, while Isle of Rataa is centred around homeware, lifestyle, and handicrafts. With Sahesh, our aim is to celebrate the incredible variety of jewellery traditions across Sri Lanka and to make them accessible to everyone who loves jewellery, whether it’s bold statement pieces or everyday designs.

Right now, we’re especially excited about working with Kandyan jewellery, adapting it for daily wear. One of the most fascinating things we’ve discovered on this journey is how diverse Sri Lanka’s jewellery heritage really is. Did you know that each region has its own style, its own designs, and even its own materials? That’s the story we want Sahesh to tell.

8. You launched “Rataa at Selyn” in partnership to help bring more opportunities to your artisans. How have partnerships like this contributed to your growth, and what challenges have you encountered?
Partnerships are a cornerstone of our business; even our relationships with our artisans are treated like a partnership. This always leads to more collaborative ideas and growth, we have been lucky to connect with partners who understand and share our core values and missions.

Our most recent partnership was with the Faculty of Visual Arts to launch our first internship program for Arts students. Called ‘Design at Rataa’, our interns receive a hands-on experience of the ins & outs of running a business, from designing a product to producing it to selling it and customer handling and in turn, we nurture a new generation of designers and give them space to grow with us.

11. What are some of the biggest challenges of running a craft‐based business in Sri Lanka (logistics, scaling, marketing, preserving quality, etc.)? How have you overcome them?
Given that we work with artisans and each piece is crafted by hand, time naturally becomes part of the process. These aren’t pieces that can be made in a day, since every piece is meticulously designed and crafted by hand. And that’s also what makes them special: no two pieces are ever exactly the same.

Of course, this also means we can’t produce in large quantities or at lightning speed. In a world where everything is expected instantly, that can feel like a challenge. However, for us, it’s worth it, because what you receive isn’t just another product, it’s something truly unique.

9. How has customer reception been, both locally in Sri Lanka and internationally, if you serve global customers?
Since we launched, the response from our customers has been incredible! Our first cushion cover – the Monstera cushion cover- sold out in a week. Ever since then, we have hit the ground running. While we rely on our online presence for sales, our best asset is word of mouth. There’s nothing better than meeting a customer who’s come to us because a friend or family member recommended our work. Those connections are truly our most valuable asset.

Another segment of our customers is Sri Lankans living abroad, and we love that our products give them a little slice of home to keep with them, wherever they are. We also work with Sri Lankans overseas who run their own businesses and want to bring a touch of Sri Lankan craftsmanship into their spaces.

10. In terms of impact, how do you see Isle of Rataa contributing to the preservation of traditional crafts, livelihoods of artisans, or broader cultural heritage?
IoR contributes to preserving traditional crafts by continuously running training programs. In 2021, we ran a training program in Kottagala to develop 150 new female artisans. In 2022, we ran a training program in the village of Rajagananya, who did Rush and Reed artisans by further developing their skillset by 

11. What are your plans for the future—are there new product categories, new markets, or new collaborations you’re excited about?
Our next exciting step is the opening of our first physical store! This has been in the works for the past year, and we are nearing the opening date. As consumer trends have moved from online shopping to in-person shopping, we are keeping up with our customers' requests by opening our flagship store in the heart of Colombo in Horton Place, Colombo 07. 

15. How do you envision the craft and design landscape in Sri Lanka evolving over the next 5–10 years, and what role would you like Isle of Rataa / Sahesh by IOR to play in that?
We would like to see ourselves grow to be leaders in the industry and expand the love of Sri Lankan craft and design not only in Sri Lanka but also internationally.