Clothing brands in Sri Lanka: a plain guide

The listThe clothing brands people mean in Sri Lanka

Each brand gets one factual line: what it sells and where.

Department stores and fashion retailers

• Odel. A department store chain in Colombo selling clothing, footwear and lifestyle goods, including its own ODEL label alongside international labels.
• Cool Planet. A fashion and lifestyle retailer with stores and an online shop, selling clothing for men, women and children. Its labels include Hustle for men and Modano for women.
• Nolimit. A Sri Lankan retail chain with an online shop, selling clothing for women, men and children.

Menswear

• Emerald. A menswear brand selling shirts, T-shirts, polos, trousers and accessories through its online shop.
• Signature. A menswear brand from the Hameedia Group, selling formal and casual clothing island-wide and through an online shop.

Casual and activewear

• Moose Clothing. Casual clothing, polo shirts and cricket wear for men and women, sold online and at a store in Majestic City, Colombo.
• Carnage. Activewear and lifestyle clothing for men and women, such as tees, leggings, shorts and joggers, sold online.

Women's labels

• Avirate. A women's fashion label with a flagship store in Colombo, selling dresses, trousers, skirts and tops.
• Kelly Felder. A women's fashion brand selling dresses, tops, denim and occasion wear in Sri Lanka.

Knitwear designed in London and knitted in Colombo

• Legacy London (formerly LCY London). Knitted polos in cotton, and knitted jumpers, with no logos on the garments.

Sri Lankan clothing brands

Of the brands above, Nolimit is a Sri Lankan retail chain, and Avirate says a Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer owns it. Legacy London designs in London and knits in Colombo, and our range of knit polo shirts in Sri Lanka is made on the island.

Top clothing stores in Colombo

Odel, Cool Planet and Nolimit run chains of stores. Moose Clothing sells at a store in Majestic City, Colombo, and Avirate has a flagship store in Colombo. Legacy London has shops at Havelock City Mall, One Galle Face and Union Place, listed with addresses on the page for our Colombo shops.

Best shirt brands in Sri Lanka

For shirts, Emerald sells shirts, T-shirts and polos through its online shop, and Signature sells formal and casual menswear. Legacy London's men's collection adds shirts to its jumpers and knitted polos.

OriginWhat is made in Sri Lanka and what is imported

Sri Lanka's apparel industry makes clothing for many international labels, and the Export Development Board describes the industry as a supplier to well-known brands worldwide. Not every brand in a Colombo shop is made in Sri Lanka.

Some retailers stock international labels made elsewhere. Some have garments made for them. A few design and make their own. The care label on each product shows the country of origin, so check it before you buy from a new brand.

JudgementHow to judge a clothing brand

Four tests work on any garment, whoever made it:

• Fabric first. Read the composition label before the price tag. A clear fibre breakdown beats a vague blend.
• Construction. Turn the shirt, polo or jumper inside out. Look for even seams, clean finishing and a collar that sits flat. They point to a maker who expects the piece to last years.
• Restraint. Cut and cloth should carry the garment. If it leans on a loud logo, ask what else it offers.
• A real address. In a shop you can walk into, you handle the fabric and try the fit.

The LCY nameLCY London, Legacy London and lcy.lk

Legacy London traded as LCY London before it became Legacy London. LCY at lcy.lk is a separate Sri Lankan company that sells men's polo shirts. It has no connection with us. Our guide explains how to tell the two apart.