Maheen Khan's tribute to the majestic silks of Bangladesh

On 12 November 2022, Maheen Khan — the founding Chair of the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB), and Managing Director and founder of Mayasir — exhibited her new collection 'Majestic Silks of Bangladesh' at the Gulshan Lake Park.
Maheen Khan is a well-known innovator in Bangladesh's design sector. She has established a market for clothing with regionally distinctive patterns. A lot has been said and written about how she and FDBC have been struggling to ensure a place for slow fashion and take the prestigious weaves of Bangladesh to global heights. Her new collection 'Majestic Silks of Bangladesh' debut at the Gulshan Lake Park was no less an effort than that. 
In fact, how to stylise and embellish a simple silk sari to turn it into an artistic attire is what Dhaka saw in her show. We at times ignore our deshi Rajshahi silks calling them too poor for our taste but the fuchias, saffrons, olive greens and yellows, whites perfectly paired with bold trendy blouses and intricately designed in Nakshi stitches and block prints were the best answer to the question of how is Rajshahi silk anything but kitsch?  

Photo: Maheen Khan

"Creating a collection like this has always been my dream. With this collection, I want to reach out to people who are not aware of the craftsmanship that our local people hold" explained Maheen Khan, sharing her thoughts about the event. 
Sharing more on her vision regarding the collection, Maheen Khan said, "In a world where everyone loves bedazzled designs, it is hard to make people see the real beauty that traditional designs hold. But I am sure, this collection will help people see how versatile our traditional designs can be."
Maheen Khan is also spot on when it comes to detailing, it is her forte. Giving attention to minute details is what made the evening a perfect treat for those in attendance. Her choreographer, the talented Sonia Yeasmin Isha complemented her hard work flawlessly and the pair pulled off one of the best fashion shows in town this season.
And Kudos must be given for the impeccable make-up done by the Ujjwala girls of Afroza Parveen, Red Beauty Parlour and Salon. Ujjwala is a mission-driven incubator, catering to women entrepreneurs and professionals in growth-oriented industry sectors. The girls, who participated were trained in makeup. They came from all over Bangladesh to participate in Maheen Khan's show and lending a hand in the show's makeup was a big task for them and they rose to the occasion.
The high tea, which was served with all snacks deshi — bhapa pitha, pera, singara, chitoi pitha with mustard paste, and steaming cups of tea — gave the fashion show a very different fun twist. 
Here is to all things Bangladeshi with a promise to #DeshiFirst #DeshiAlways.