Fashion Revolution Bangladesh, in collaboration with Fashion Revolution Nigeria, announced the winners of their groundbreaking Cross-national Design Competition on December 15, 2023, at a virtual event.
This competition, the brainchild of Masrur Rahman, Country Coordinator of Fashion Revolution Bangladesh, successfully brought together the vibrant and diverse fashion industries of Bangladesh and Nigeria.
A total of 50 emerging designers from Bangladesh and Nigeria participated in the competition, with 25 designers from Bangladesh and the remaining from Nigeria. They were grouped into 5 cross-national teams, allowing them to blend and merge their rich and deep understanding of culture, art, and fashion.
The winners, led by Shafa Nahian from Bangladesh and Fatomilola Michael from Nigeria, demonstrated exceptional creativity and cross-cultural synergy. The team, including Okpara Rachel (Nigeria), Mahmudul Hasan (Bangladesh), Olagoke Eniola (Nigeria), Fatema Taiyaba (Bangladesh), Daso Okikiola (Nigeria), Shadia Akndo (Bangladesh), and Nayeem Ar Rahman Khan (Bangladesh), showcased innovative designs that beautifully blended the rich fashion traditions of both countries.
The competition was judged by an illustrious panel comprising Nawshin Khair, Creative Director and Managing Director of Aranya Crafts, Mehruz Munir, Founder and Creative Director of luxury menswear brand Zurhem, Zizi Cardow, Creative Director and Designer of Zizi Cardow, Asad Sattar, Founder of Arka Studio, and Ebele Udoh, Founder of African Designers Mall and Creative Director of ADM Projects. The event was graced by special guests Orsola De Castro, Co-founder of Fashion Revolution, and Carey Somers, Executive Director of League of Artisans and Co-founder of Fashion Revolution.
A Milestone in Cross-National Collaboration
Masrur Rahman, reflecting on the competition, stated, “In global fashion, virtual exchanges open up new windows, fostering cross-national collaborations that give birth to extraordinary designs. Creating a learning environment, we joyfully illuminate the path for designers to craft greatness.”
This virtual exchange programme represents a significant milestone in cross-national collaboration, setting the stage for future projects that aim to redefine the landscape of the global fashion industry.
About Fashion Revolution
Fashion Revolution Bangladesh is a voluntary group that works closely with the next generation of fashion students, professionals, academicians, researchers, and industry leaders on skill development, research, and education to impact the fashion industry positively.
It is a global, open-source movement that works for a more sustainable fashion industry, campaigning for a systematic reform to create a fashion industry that conserves and restores the environment and values people over growth and profit. It is spearheaded by Fashion Revolution CIC, which is a UK-based organisation, and has a Global Network in 75 countries.