“Trusted by Panthera” not only sold products but also possibilities. Born from a shared vision between the Rotaract Club of University of Colombo Faculty of Management & Finance and Panthera Styles, this Women’s Day initiative wasn’t just another calendar event. It was a purposeful stride into a world where Sri Lankan women artisans, not only dream but deliver, design, and drive their own futures.
It all started with a question: How can we truly empower women in a way that lasts longer than a campaign and deeper than a social post? The answer arrived in the form of a digital bridge—connecting talented female artisans with Panthera Styles, one of Sri Lanka’s leading fashion platforms. From March 8, 2025, these women were no longer just creating in silence. They were selling, storytelling, and succeeding in real time.
The rhythm of the project started with action on the ground. Our rotaractors rolled up their sleeves not to paint banners or decorate stages, but to find the real heroes. Women with dreams tucked away in rural homes across Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, and Kandy. Through village visits, social media drives, and Gramasewaka Niladhari connections, we uncovered stories stitched with resilience and talent that deserved the spotlight. And that spotlight came in the form of onboarding. This wasn’t just uploading product images. This was about sitting down with each artisan but mentoring them, guiding them through quality checks, pricing strategies, logistics, storytelling. The digital space became a launchpad. The Rotaract club, a backbone. And Panthera Styles? The runway.
Then came the magic of launch day. On March 8, the project didn’t just go live, it came alive. Through every reel, every post, every like and share, women saw their creations reach customers they never imagined. And customers saw what it truly meant to support local. The PR campaign? It was electric. Collaborating with influencer Ama Wijesinghe gave the project a pulse online, one of her reels clocking in over 100K views. Panthera’s own pages amplified the message to its massive following. But beyond the metrics, what mattered most were the eyes of the women who saw their products out there—for real, for sale, for change. 
Behind it all was a Rotaract team that showed up, not just as volunteers, but as mentors, strategists, creatives, and believers. From verifying artisans to training them, from PR planning to impact tracking, this was service with intention, with heart.Because “Trusted by Panthera” wasn’t just a project. It was a declaration. That women can lead. That craft can empower. That when service meets strategy, and style meets strength, anything is possible.
And now, when we see those artisan-made earrings, handcrafted notebooks, or home décor on the Panthera site—we don’t just see products. We see purpose. We see proof. Because “Trusted by Panthera” wasn’t just about showcasing women. It was about trusting them to take the lead. And they did.
Written By: –
Rtr. Dion Gomes
(Co-Director Finance Avenue 2024/25)
Edited By: –
Rtr. Naduni Premathilaka
(Senior Blog Team Member 2024-25)
