Upcycled Fashion at New York Fashion Week

From a small dream in 2017 to the runway at New York Fashion Week, Certitude by K by Sri Lankan designer Kanchana Fernando is a brand with a mission. Focusing on both social and environmental sustainability, Certitude by K brings upcycled fashion to the world stage. In this blog, we explore Kanchana’s inspiring journey, the values behind the brand, and how upcycling can lead to a more sustainable fashion future. Watch the video below to see her unique collection in action.

In the video, Kanchana Fernando shares the origin story of Certitude by K, a brand that combines creativity with responsibility. "I was walking around this area in the first week of February in 2017, and I was just thinking, what if I could launch my collection here?" she recalls. What started as a small dream soon became a reality.

The core values of the brand lie in sustainability—both social and environmental.
Social Sustainability: Kanchana collaborates with the Department of Probation and Child Care to work with underprivileged women and girls. These partnerships empower communities, providing opportunities for these women to contribute to the fashion world.

Environmental Sustainability: At the heart of Certitude by K is upcycling. Kanchana collects old, discarded clothes and transforms them into stunning new pieces. This helps reduce the amount of clothing waste that ends up in landfills.

Her passion for sustainability began early on:
"Every time I wore a new outfit, I always thought I was contributing to the landfill. How could I be a responsible fashion designer?"

The answer was found in her family’s heritage. Using a fabric technique passed down by her parents, Kanchana created her first upcycled collection in 2015, blending tradition with innovation.