On February 20, 2025, during the Colombo Fashion Week at the Taj Hotel Colombo, attendees were alarmed when models showcased garments under the ‘Deedat’ brand that bore a striking resemblance to attire associated with Middle Eastern terrorist organizations. The designs featured black garments reminiscent of imagery broadcasted during violent campaigns, including the notorious black masks worn during beheadings.
This provocative display is particularly distressing given Sri Lanka’s recent history; the nation is still mourning the devastating Easter Sunday attacks by Islamic extremists that claimed 269 lives and wounded more than 500 during church services.
The decision by the event’s organizers to permit such designs raises serious concerns about the potential glorification of such terror groups and a blatant insensitivity to the country’s traumatic past.
While fashion often pushes boundaries, this incident underscores the imperative for designers and organizers to exercise cultural sensitivity and historical awareness, ensuring that artistic expression does not inadvertently endorse or trivialize acts of terror.
