Originally worn by Western labourers, especially those involved in doing heavy work, denim has long been popular as a fabric of choice primarily because of its functional and sturdy nature. However, denim has changed since then. High street fashion houses are now embracing the fabric, which prompted the organisers of the 5th edition of Denimsandjeans.com Bangladesh show to have the theme "Denim in Fashion" for its latest instalment of "Fashionim – The Denim Fashion Show." 

Showcasing the versatility and opportunities for denim in the world of fashion, the show started off with four lines for Spring-Summer 2016 by Vicunha. It began with the "Nostalgic Remake" collection, featuring pieces with tapestry and floral designs. The cuts were reminiscent of the 60's and 70's, with intense colour tones, stressing a "retro comeback" look. This was followed by the "Notox" range, with a modern and jazzy contrast to the preceding collection. Afterwards, the models walked down the ramp to the audience's applause, dressed in more youthful outfits in dynamic colours which focused on a more urban chic profile. To wrap it all up, Vicunha's last collection, "Roots Recap", was a rather exotic line-up highlighting cultural connections from across the globe through batik and adire patterns in more natural colours and ecru fabrics. 

Envoy exhibited two lines from their Spring-Summer wardrobe, featuring heavily on bringing back overalls and summer dresses through printed denims. Their men's line featured a combination of both fade and print. The second line was more centred on being trendy and youthful with vibrant colours. The last segment featured submissions for a design contest for Bangladeshi university students and featured dresses which drew influences from all over the globe; ranging from the innovative to the traditional and from the exciting to the mundane.

Sandeep Agarwal, the architect behind the event stated, "Bangladesh is a major player in the global denim scene, making marks in all major markets, in addition to being the largest supplier to the EU. The show is an extension of the unique position Bangladesh holds to support their market 
position."

By Mohaiminul Islam