by Tyron Devotta
In an age of fast fashion, synthetic colour, and supply chains that stretch across continents but forget their roots, Sriland Herbal Clothing—branded as “Osu Vastra”—is doing something quietly radical: it is looking backwards in order to move forward.
Founded by Amal Chandika, and run in partnership with Suranga Silva, the venture is not merely a boutique textile brand. It is a living experiment in sustainability, indigenous knowledge preservation, and ethical production—one that draws directly from Sri Lanka’s ancient monastic and Ayurvedic traditions.
At the heart of their work is an almost-forgotten dyeing technique known locally as the Pandu process—a method once used in temples to colour the robes of Buddhist monks. Long before chemical dyes and industrial shortcuts, monks relied on bark, leaves, roots, and medicinal herbs to produce the earthy ochres, browns, and reds that came to define monastic life. Today, Sriland Herbal Clothing has revived and reinterpreted that process for a modern world.
Amal Chandika, Founder of Sriland's “Osu Vastra” Herbal Clothing, and business partner, Suranga Silva
Osu Vastra: When Ayurveda Meets the Loom
The name itself tells the story. “Osu” refers to Ayurvedic herbal medicine; “Vastra” means clothing. Together, Osu Vastra represents a philosophy as much as a product—hand-woven cotton garments dyed entirely through herbal extraction, without toxic chemicals, harmful fixers, or synthetic additives.
The base material is cotton yarn, hand-woven on traditional handlooms, using techniques that have existed in Sri Lanka for generations. The dyeing process, however, is where ancient science truly comes alive.
Among the primary ingredients used are:
- Terminalia chebula (Aralu) – traditionally valued for skin health and digestive support
- Terminalia belerica (Bulu) – known as a natural immunity booster
- Indian gooseberry (Nelli) – a powerful natural antioxidant
- Turmeric (Kaha) – used for skin protection and anti-inflammatory properties
- Neem (Kohomba) – prized for skin treatment and immune support
- Coscinium fenestratum (Weniwel) – a natural cosmetic ingredient with antiseptic qualities
These are not merely colour agents. They are plants embedded in Sri Lanka’s Ayurvedic heritage—extracted through boiling, immersion, and repeated dye baths that allow colour and plant compounds to bind naturally to cotton fibres.
The dyeing process that allow colour and plant compounds to bind naturally to cotton fibres
Additional botanical ingredients shape both tone and textile character:
- Rasakinda (Heart-leaf moonseed) – traditionally associated with blood sugar regulation
- Mahogany bark (Swietenia macrophylla) – yields rich reddish hues and contains anti-inflammatory properties
- Madder (Wel-madaṭa) – a natural anti-inflammatory dye agent
- Cinnamon (Kurundu) – a natural antioxidant with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects
The result is a palette of earthy, calming colours—tones that soften with wear rather than degrade, and that reflect nature rather than overpower it.
Cloth That Asks for Care
Natural dyes behave differently from chemical ones. There may be a subtle shift after the first wash, a soft settling of colour rather than dramatic fading. This is not a flaw; it is the signature of authenticity. Sri Lankan Herbal Clothing encourages gentle washing and discourages harsh stain removers, asking wearers to build a more mindful relationship with what they wear.
In doing so, the garment becomes personal; almost alive.
Sustainability with a Human Face
Operating from Kahawatte, between Galle and Hikkaduwa, the enterprise currently employs around 15 people, most of them women from surrounding rural communities. They are weavers, dyers, and artisans whose skills are often sidelined by industrialisation, thrive in this traditional occupation!
This is sustainability not as a buzzword, but as an economic model: low environmental impact, fair trade practices, local employment, and value retained within Sri Lanka.
A naturally dyed cotton yarn being hand-woven on a traditional handloom
A Story Older Than Fashion
The founders root their work in a deeper historical narrative. They say according to Sri Lankan chronicles, Kuveni, the island’s legendary first queen, was spinning cotton when Prince Vijaya first landed on the shores of Lanka. Whether read as myth or memory, the symbolism is powerful: textile craft as one of the earliest expressions of civilisation on this island. Osu Vastra positions itself as a continuation of that lineage—an effort to bring Sri Lanka’s vivid craft traditions into the modern world without stripping them of meaning.
Why This Matters Now
Global fashion is in crisis. Synthetic dyes pollute waterways. Fast fashion accelerates waste. Consumers are increasingly aware that clothing choices are also environmental and ethical choices.
Sriland Herbal Clothing has found resonance with both local customers and foreign visitors—particularly through outlets such as the Good Market and their factory outlet in Galle. Visitors are drawn not only to the comfort of cotton suited to tropical weather, but to the story embedded in every thread.
There are plans to explore exports in the future, but growth is approached carefully—guided by principles of sustainability rather than scale at any cost.
Sriland Herbal Clothing stall operating at the Good Market
Keeping a Living Tradition Alive
Perhaps the most quietly powerful aspect of Osu Vastra is this: it preserves a tradition that even temples themselves now rarely practise. While monks today often purchase ready-made robes, the ancient herbal dyeing knowledge has largely faded from daily ritual. By reviving and adapting the Pandu process beyond temple walls, Osu Vastra ensures that Sri Lanka’s intangible cultural heritage does not disappear into academic footnotes.
In a world obsessed with speed, this venture chooses patience. In an economy chasing volume, it chooses value. And in a fashion industry addicted to artificial colour, it reminds us that the most enduring shades still come from the earth itself.
Sometimes, the future truly does need to be dyed in the colours of the past.