Sri Lanka - Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot
Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot, a podcast hosted by Dee Gibson, the British Sri Lankan designer and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House on the South Coast. This podcast is raw and real with guests from authors and explorers to designers and wellness gurus, all exploring the contemporary identity of Sri Lankans through rich conversations on creativity, culture and activism.
A rich mix of controversial views, humour, serious reflections and a little dash of the naughty side of this gorgeous island. Join Dee and her guests as they uncover stories and perspectives not typically found in travel guides, showcasing a dynamic society reclaiming its narrative on a global stage.
Sri Lanka - Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot
Sri Lanka's Sustainable Fashion Movement
Why Sri Lanka Must Address Textile Waste: Insights from Lonali Rodrigo
In this episode of 'Sri Lanka, Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot,' host Dee Gibson interviews fashion entrepreneur Lonali Rodrigo, discussing the pressing need for Sri Lanka to address textile waste. Lonali highlights the country's history in garment production and the growing challenge of pre- and post-consumer waste. Through her brand, House of Lonali, she exemplifies sustainable practices by up-cycling textile waste into new products, collaborating with local artisans, and engaging in educational initiatives. The episode provides a comprehensive look at the environmental and economic reasons driving Sri Lanka to tackle textile waste head-on.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:00 Meet Lonali Rodrigo: Fashion Entrepreneur
02:52 House of Lonali: Sustainable Fashion
04:45 Sri Lanka's Textile Industry
08:19 Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Fashion
17:45 The Upcycling Process at House of Lonali
21:44 Collaborations and Projects
36:31 Educational Initiatives and Oxford Fellowship
43:22 Future Outlook
About Lonali Rodrigo
Founder & Lead Designer, House of Lonali
Lonali Rodrigo is a designer, changemaker, and the visionary behind House of Lonali, a conscious designer brand and social enterprise rooted in ethical fashion. With a deep commitment to people and planet, Lonali creates uncompromisingly stylish designs that champion circularity, creativity, and entrepreneurship, all aligned with her mission to Design a Better Future.
She holds a First Class Honours degree in Fashion Design from Northumbria University and a Master’s in Sustainable Management from the University of Bedfordshire. Lonali’s work and values are further shaped by her experience as a Chevening CRISP Fellow (Research, Science, and Innovation Leadership Programme) at the University of Oxford.
Through House of Lonali, she continues to inspire a new generation of conscious consumers and creators by proving that fashion can be both beautiful and responsible.
Dee Gibson is the award winning designer and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka, www.kalukandahouse.com ~ Conde Nast Best Places to Visit in Asia 2024 & HIP Hotels Best Hotels 2025. You can follow on
instagram @deegibson2017 or @kalukandahouse
This podcast lifts the veil on what, and more importantly WHO this island is with conversations about all the things you never read about in the travel pages. Dee showcases a fascinating modern society reclaiming their identity and taking ownership of their narratives on the global stage. No subject is taboo so expect guests talking about everything from activism through art and yoga, why sari was modified by British colonisers, a performance on love and lust to episodes on forgotten heroines being narrated back into our history books and much more.