Fashion designers
Dhaka City fashion Scene
Today’s Dhaka City is becoming increasingly a fashion-conscious capital city. Although western influences are the dominant trend among the young, traditional Bangladeshi fabrics and styles are also becoming more creatively developed and getting trendy.
Bangladeshi society is becoming more and more westernised, and the fashion choices being made by Dhaka City youths are not very different from young people’s tastes in other parts of the world. The main difference is that now an increasing number of young Bangladeshi talents are involved in the design and production of new fashion wear.
On the other hand, institutions and creative individuals are increasingly becoming engaged in taking indigenous and traditional fabrics and styles to new and more fashionable heights. Some individuals are even attempting to promote Bangladeshi traditional tribal garments with their colourful mix of fabrics to the wider Bangladeshi and world audiences.
This is a very exciting period for fashion in Dhaka City, both in respect of designing and wearing clothes, especially in the light of the rapid changes taking place throughout society. There are more choices on offer and people seem to like the availability of a greater number of new-look fashion products and with an increasing frequency.
The new trend in fashion is an integral part of the complex processes taking the country forward, and in many instances, may even be acting as a catalyst and driver of change. It is also a better time for designers as more and more avenues are being opened up to promote their talents. No doubt that more famous individuals like Bibi Russell will emerge in the future. For example, in Dhaka City, regular fashion shows are held to enable designers to showcase their latest collections. The most popular venues for the shows are Fu-Wang Club, Gulshan Club, NAM Building, Sonargao and Sheraton hotels. Newly built shopping centres are also providing an outlet for locally produced fashions. In terms of influence and inspiration, young Bangladeshi designers are getting their inspiration from both India and the west. The main sources are the various satellite channels beaming down fashion shows and dance and music programmes into the country.
Although, relatively speaking, only a few girls and women are seen wearing western fashion in Dhaka, barriers are being broken down in creative ways. Girls are quite frequently observed in Dhaka City streets wearing jeans with fashionable traditional Bangladeshi tops. Through fashions shows new western fashion-wear are being promoted more widely, aimed at both men and women. More daring designs for
women are normally bought for events and private functions, rather than for wearing on streets or going to work. On the other hand, because western designs have been quite restricted among Bangladeshi women, traditional designs and fabrics have made a more creative leap forward for them as compared to what exists for men.
There are many fashion and boutique shops in Dhaka City and new ones are opening all the time. They cater to the creative urges of women designers and the growing popularity of new and innovative locally based designs. Aarong is the most popular and well-known pioneer in this field, although not restricted to women’s fashion alone. The quality and sheer innovation in design have made Aarong the market leader in this regard.
Works of two individuals, Shujon and Rakiba, who have recently entered the field of fashion designing, make it clear that fashion designing is becoming a creative and exciting part of Dhaka City life.
