Otara Gunewardene – Fashion Rebel Who Dressed Colombo and Saved Strays

The Unconventional Beginnings of a Fashion Icon

Many successful people have a clear plan for their future. Otara Gunewardene’s story, however, started differently. She did not study fashion or business in university. Instead, she earned a degree in biology in the United States. When she returned home to Sri Lanka, she briefly tried a traditional job but quickly realized it wasn't the right path for her. She had a strong desire to create something of her own.

Her journey into fashion began in a very simple way. In the late 1980s, Sri Lanka's garment factories were making high-quality clothes for famous international brands. Sometimes, there were extra garments left over from large orders. Otara spotted an opportunity in this surplus stock. With a small amount of money, she bought some of these clothes and started selling them from the trunk of her car.

This humble car-boot sale became an instant hit. Friends and family loved the stylish, affordable clothes. Word spread quickly, and soon, more people were stopping by her driveway to shop. This small venture, born from a simple idea, was the start of Odel. It showed that you don’t need a huge investment to launch a successful business, a lesson shared by other great Sri Lankan entrepreneurs like Ishara Nanayakkara.

From these simple beginnings, Otara built a brand that would completely change how Colombo shopped. Her story is a great example for anyone with side-hustle ideas, proving that a great business can come from seeing a need and bravely taking a chance.

## Odel: Dressing a Generation and Building an Empire Otara Gunewardene's fashion empire didn't start in a fancy boardroom. It began in the boot of her blue station wagon. In the late 1980s, she noticed that Colombo lacked trendy, affordable clothing. Seeing an opportunity, she began selling surplus garments from local factories to friends and family. What started as a small side-hustle quickly gained a loyal following, proving that she had a keen eye for what people wanted to wear. From these humble beginnings, Odel was born. The first proper store on Dickman's Road soon gave way to the iconic flagship store at Alexandra Place. This wasn't just another clothing shop; it was a destination. With its stylish interiors, diverse collections, and a cafe, Odel introduced a modern, international shopping experience to Sri Lanka. It became the go-to place for an entire generation of young people looking to express themselves through fashion. Otara had her finger on the pulse of the youth, and Odel became a cultural phenomenon. The brand grew into a retail powerhouse, expanding with new stores across the island. In 2010, Otara took Odel public, making it the first fashion retailer to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The initial public offering was a massive success, showing the strength of the brand she had built from scratch. In 2014, Otara sold her majority stake in the company to Softlogic Holdings, a business conglomerate headed by another top Sri Lankan entrepreneur, Ishara Nanayakkara. The sale marked the end of an era, but Odel's legacy was secure. Otara had not only built a business; she had changed the face of Sri Lankan retail and dressed a generation in the process.

A Change of Heart: The Pivot to Animal Welfare

While Odel was reaching new heights, Otara Gunewardene felt a pull in a different direction. Her love for animals, especially Sri Lanka's street dogs, grew stronger each day. This passion wasn't just a hobby; it was becoming her true calling. The change from fashion tycoon to animal advocate started with small steps but led to a complete life transformation.

The turning point came in 2007. Otara started a passion project called Embark. At first, it was a small brand inside Odel stores. It sold t-shirts and accessories with cool dog-themed designs. The money raised from Embark went directly to helping street dogs. It paid for sterilisation, puppy adoptions, and vaccinations. Embark made it fashionable to care about stray animals, and the public loved it.

For years, Otara balanced her role as CEO of a fashion empire with her growing work in animal welfare. But she realised her heart was fully with the animals. In 2014, she made a shocking decision. She sold all her shares in Odel, the company she had built from nothing. This move allowed her to dedicate all her time and energy to Embark and the cause of animal rights. Like other great entrepreneurs who turn to giving back, Otara chose purpose over profit. This journey from business leader to philanthropist echoes the paths of many global figures who used their success to create positive change. Read more about this concept in Andrew Carnegie: Steel Tycoon to Philanthropist – Lessons for Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs.

Today, Otara is one of Sri Lanka's leading voices for the voiceless. Her foundation works tirelessly to improve the lives of street dogs and promote a kinder attitude towards all animals. She swapped the world of high fashion for the rewarding work of saving lives, proving that true success is about following your heart.

Embark: Where Fashion Meets a Cause After building Odel into a household name, Otara Gunewardene turned her attention to a cause close to her heart: the welfare of Sri Lanka’s street dogs. In 2007, she launched Embark, a unique fashion brand with a mission. It was never just about selling clothes; it was about creating a movement. Embark’s trendy t-shirts, bags, and accessories, often featuring cute cartoons of street dogs, made it cool to care. The brand became a powerful engine for change. Every purchase directly funded projects to help homeless animals. The profits were used for large-scale sterilisation and vaccination programs to manage the street dog population humanely. Embark also ran adoption days to find loving homes for rescued puppies and dogs, and its rescue teams responded to calls about injured animals across the country. Through fashion, Otara gave a voice to those who could not speak for themselves. While other business leaders like [Ishara Nanayakkara](https://www.lankawebsites.com/people/entrepreneurs/ishara-nanayakkara-microfinance-maestro-turning-lkr-into-billion-dollar-empires/) were building financial empires, Otara was pioneering social entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka. She showed that a business could be profitable and compassionate at the same time. What started as a passion project became her main focus. Eventually, her commitment to animal welfare led her to sell her majority stake in Odel in 2014. This bold move allowed her to dedicate all her time to Embark and her foundation. For Otara, it was the ultimate proof that a business born from love could become a life's purpose, inspiring countless others to explore their own [side-hustle ideas for Sri Lankans with full‑time jobs](https://www.lankawebsites.com/home-and-life-style/side-hustle-ideas-for-sri-lankans-with-full-time-jobs-weekend-and-online-options/) that could also make a difference. Embark continues to be a leading voice for animal rights and a symbol of fashion with a conscience.

Changing the Narrative for Sri Lanka's Strays

While Otara Gunewardene built a fashion empire, her heart was always with the street dogs of Sri Lanka. After selling Odel, she turned her full attention to this lifelong passion. She saw a major problem on the streets: thousands of stray animals were neglected, often suffering from injury and starvation. Public perception of these dogs was poor, and there were few large-scale efforts to help them.

In 2007, she launched Embark, a project that aimed to change this reality. Embark wasn’t just another animal shelter. It was a well-planned mission with three clear goals: rescue, sterilize, and rehome. The organization rescues sick and injured dogs, provides them with medical care, and vaccinates them. Its sterilization programs help manage the stray population humanely, reducing the number of puppies born onto the streets.

What made Embark truly unique was how Otara used her business skills to fund it. She created a trendy line of clothing and accessories featuring street dogs. These products became popular, and all the profits were channelled back into animal welfare. This clever strategy made it fashionable to support the cause. Adoption days became major events, and Embark successfully rebranded street dogs as "Sri Lankan Supermutts," encouraging people to choose adoption over buying a pet.

Otara’s transition from a retail giant to a full-time philanthropist provides a powerful model for giving back. Her journey shows how business success can be a platform for creating meaningful social change, offering important lessons for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs on blending profit with purpose. Through Embark, she did not just save dogs; she changed a nation's mindset about its most vulnerable animals.

The Enduring Legacy of a Rebel with a Cause Otara Gunewardene’s impact on Sri Lanka goes far beyond the clothes she sold. Her legacy is built on two strong pillars: transforming the country’s retail industry and giving a powerful voice to voiceless animals. She didn't just build a business; she started movements that continue to shape Sri Lankan society. Before Odel, shopping in Colombo was a simple task. Otara turned it into an experience. She created a world-class lifestyle store that became a landmark. Odel wasn't just a shop; it was a destination where people could explore fashion, find unique gifts, and feel connected to global trends. Her success showed a generation of young Sri Lankans what was possible. She proved that a simple idea, started from the boot of a car, could grow into an empire. This story puts her among the nation's most inspiring business leaders, much like other visionaries such as Ishara Nanayakkara – Microfinance Maestro Turning LKR into Billion-Dollar Empires. However, her most enduring legacy might be her work after fashion. By selling her stake in Odel to focus on animal welfare, she made a bold statement. She showed that success is not just about profit but also about purpose. Through Embark and the Otara Foundation, she made saving street dogs a mainstream cause. She used her brand-building skills to make adoption fashionable and compassion cool. Today, thousands of animals have been rescued, vaccinated, and found loving homes because of her work. Otara Gunewardene is more than a fashion icon or an activist. She is a role model who proved that you can be both a smart entrepreneur and a compassionate leader. Her legacy teaches us that a successful business can be a powerful tool for creating positive change, leaving a lasting mark on both the economy and the heart of a nation.