IN BLOOM

Just off the beaches of southern Sri Lanka, a design-forward lifestyle district is flourishing Just off the beaches of southern Sri Lanka, a design-forward lifestyle district is flourishing

- AKANKSHA KAMATH

Clockwise from left: A sari sold at Barefoot; inside the Fort Printers hotel; hand-painted plates at Barefoot

RECENTLY, SRI LANKA'S Southern Province has become a favored destination for neophyte surfers-a laid-back alternative to the less forgiving waters of the eastern coast-and a lively hospitality scene has risen in tandem. It is centered in the Galle district, famous for its monumental Galle Fort, a 16th-century Portuguese stronghold where shops and sleek stays like the Fort Printers hotel now buzz behind the ramparts. But follow Matara Road to the town of Ahangama and the surfing hot spot of Weligama Bay, and you'll start to see the bigger picture: a growing Sri Lankan design movement informed by heritage crafts, spiritual traditions, Dutch colonial roots, and the easy-breezy vibes of the wave riders who are driving change in the water and on dry land.

GOING DUTCH