Say ‘I Do’ with LOVI - The New Nilame for the Modern Groom | Part 1
Brides tend to get all the attention at weddings. But remember, it is also the groom’s day to shine. As a modern Sri Lankan groom, you have a wide range of style choices to consider when dressing for the big day.
You can go western with a tuxedo, a crisp suit, or casual linen suit, or you can go traditional with the Aarya Sinhala suit (the sarong and kurta combo that you see on most politicos) or the Kandyan nilame suit, which needs no introduction and is a grand production in and of itself.
But what if these options don’t really appeal to you? Do you want something fresh and contemporary that speaks to your roots at the same time? Do you want to wear something comfortable like the national dress but not as fussy as the nilame suit? And what if you’re on a budget?
Worry not, LOVI has some amazing pieces that blend the tradition of the Aarya Sinhala suit with contemporary design to create something worthy of the modern, cosmopolitan Sri Lankan in a way that will not break the bank. We’ve put together three different schools of style for the groom looking to get hitched the LOVI way with our top picks for impeccable wedding style. Let's start with the nilame
The Nilame reinvented
Nothing evokes Sri Lankan style like the nilame suit. This form of dress, formally known as mul anduma, was initially reserved only for Kandyan royalty, though in the years since the abolishment of the Kandyan kingdom, it is now worn for ceremonial occasions like weddings. Incidentally, the mul anduma is an import from India, introduced by the Indian wife of a Kandyan king in the 18th century.
LOVI’s New Nilame jacket is a look that draws directly from the grandeur of mul anduma adapting it for the modern man who wants to look without all the fuss of the intricate nilame suit. This structured velvet jacket draws on elements of colonial uniform and mixes it with the thick gold thread reminiscent of the Indian zardosi style embroidery that adorns the iconic velvet jackets of the nilame suit.
Pair this luxe jacket with the LOVI Kandyan sarong (pictured), an ivory cotton handloom sarong with stripes of shimmering gold woven in and sprinkled with delicate hand-embroidered lotus motifs.
If Kandyan royalty was still around today, in the traditional sense, we guarantee this would be one of their style staples.
LOVI’s new national nilame is an altogether different expression of the national. Working on a base of smooth silk, this reinterpretation of nilame style features appliqued velvet panels with thick-gold thread embroidery reminiscent of the nilame style but reimagined entirely for the modern style revolutionary who is looking to make a statement that celebrates Sri Lankan heritage.
LOVI’s new national nilame comes with a matching sarong that also features velvet appliques with the signature nilame inspired gold thread embroidery.
The new national nilame is easily customisable, be it in terms of colour, or embroidery. However you want to tweak the new nilame to suit the real you, the team at LOVI has your back.
Keeping calm and carrying on in true LOVI fashion
LOVI CEYLON designs and produces a range of sarongs and other clothing to make customers look good, feel good and be amazing in almost any setting. We’re more than a fashion brand. We’re a lifestyle and a movement looking to bring the thrill of sarongs to people around the world. LOVI is for someone bold, active, and authentic who seeks something beautifully made in an understated way. Visit the LOVI JOURNAL to learn more about the LOVI way of life.
