TRESemmé Bangladesh Fashion Week 2019: Who to look out for?

London, New York, Milan or India Fashion Week – you name it, we are in love with all these coveted fashion shows burning down fashion runways all over the world. 

Finally, the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) is initiating one of the most anticipated fashion events of the year for Bangladesh – TRESemmé Bangladesh Fashion Week, 2019, partnered by FDCB, at International Convention Bashundhara, Hall 1 on 23, 24 and 25 February.

The council plans to team up again, to breathe new life into fashion and design, highlighting the authentic heritage looms, and excluding anything synthetic, or nylon. With a coveted panel of both international and national designers, this year's event is certainly something to look out for.

And the participants are even more illustrious.

Here, we have randomly selected few upcoming designers from both the national and international front, who are expected to showcase their exclusive lines in the remarkable fashion show.

Photo: Collected

National Participants

Rifat Rahman

Rifat Rahman graduated from Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, where his major was fashion design, but his passion for clothing design began long before he started pursuing it as a career. He has been designing clothes for friends and family even before he knew the difference between the basic right and wrong of clothing construction.

Rahman's ability to understand his client's style effortlessly makes him stand out. After working as a freelance designer for a time, Rahman started his own custom made label named R Rahman. Apart from his personal work, Rifat Rahman has worked with several local and multinational brands as the lead designer. Currently he is working as an assistant design manager at Grameen Uniqlo.

Tashfia Ahmed

With an impeccable taste in fashion and styling, and a feminist by heart, Tashfia Ahmed, a fashion graduate, is just a step closer of becoming the new name in our fashion industry. Her aim is to deliver a true and pure essence of contemporary fashion fused with a touch of tradition. Playing with the vast source of textures along with colours and patterns are her forte. She loves to create new prints and design textiles with simple classic silhouettes. After graduating from one of the prestigious institutions –– Raffles International College, Bangkok she has been able to broaden her scopes as a 'fashion enthusiast'.

Her work reflects subtlety with a dash of feminism. Ahmed has plans to involve the local craftsmen and weavers into her work so that our heritage is well preserved.

Sadiya Mishu

Sadiya Mishu completed her Post-Graduation in Fashion Designing from Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology. She wants to contribute as much as she can to develop the local fashion industry further. For TRESemmé Fashion Week 2019, her chosen theme is "Wheel of Nature" where she discusses the theme of construction and destruction.  In general, she deals with anything that is authentic and traditional. Having said that, she is particularly hopeful about her latest creation that deals with Muslin, cotton, traditional motifs and patterns. Mishu is optimistic about highlighting only Bangladeshi heritage items, wherever her future as a designer takes her.

Musarrat Rahman

With an emphasis on design, fit and tailoring, Rahman's brand aims to not only challenge negative perceptions of Bangladesh as a garment exporter globally, but also tap into the vast reserves of talent and the growing demand for luxury designer clothing in her country.

Musarrat Rahman focuses on using high end fabrics and technology coupled with traditional craftsmanship to highlight the raw talent in Bangladeshi artisans and interpret that for a more high fashion context.

Drawing influence not just from the rich heritage of Bengali clothing and textiles, but also the bleeding edge of art, music and technology. Musarrat Rahman appeals to a geographically diverse consumer base. Made responsibly and with pride in Bangladesh, her unique approach to luxury makes a statement at an aspirational yet market compatible price point.

International Participants

Swati Kalsi

Swati Kalsi has worked with handcrafted textiles, in various capacities, for more than a decade. Over the years, she has been noted to have brought contemporary relevance to the time honoured handcrafted textiles of artisans, thereby pushing to create a basis for their livelihoods. Her work has been a part of design, textile and fashion exhibitions/shows at galleries and museums like Alliance Francaise de Delhi, Devi Art Foundation, India, and Victoria & Albert Museum, London. She has collaborated with numerous foundations and councils within the realm of innovation through textile crafts of India.  Her work has made space for itself in the homes and wardrobes of eminent national and international artists, collectors and connoisseurs.

Kencho Wangmo

Designer Kencho Wangmo from Bhutan began her venture into the fashion industry in 2008. Wangmo strongly feels that the textile and fashion provides a platform for self-employment, empowering women throughout the world. Furthermore, she also believes that the fashion industry also provides an opportunity to showcase richness and uniqueness of Bhutanese textile and fashion evolution.

As a designer and an entrepreneur in the fashion industry, Wangmo has participated in numerous fashion shows, within and outside the country. In the last 10 years of working in the textile industry, the experience has taught her to endeavor or rededicate herself in promoting Bhutan's very own culture and tradition through textile designs.

Faiza Samee

In 1985, Faiza Samee designed three wedding outfits of the late Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Soon after, her journey in the fashion world took flight.

Under her own product label, Samee has established international demand in western and eastern countries, with the most successful markets being the United States and India. The range of products has expanded from formal and bridal wear, to high fashion dresses. Although shy in the media light, Faiza Samee ventured into bold and alluring couture fashion internationally. With the increasing volume in public and individual requests, Faiza Samee and her dedicated team have expanded into a successful industry at home and abroad, prompting Pakistani culture and keeping its heritage alive.

Anu Shrestha

With two decades of experience in fashion designing, Anu Shrestha, from Kathmandu, Nepal, has specialised in hand painting on pure silk material, producing silk garments, cashmere outfits and accessories with meticulous detailing.  Her company, the Kallisto Designs was created with a vision of promoting exquisite Nepalese craft, strengthening the livelihoods of artisans and craft producers within the country, and creating fair employment opportunities.

Anu has participated in numerous fashion shows and her designs are well received, both nationally and internationally.

Compiled by Mehrin Mubdi Chowdhury

Photo: Collected