Over the past two decades Saimul Karim has been building his two ventures Eskay Décor and Eskay Eventz by making decor dreams come true. As the year wraps up, he reflects on the evolution of Eskay.
Picture this: it is the early 2000’s and mid-century modern décor is trending. The colour palette of choice is muted, neutrals and conservative shades. And then there it is – the celebrated artiste Sadia Islam Mou posing in an off-white muslin saree against a lush purple headboard. “Making a sofa in an unconventional colour was something no one else would dare to try at the time” recalls Saimul Karim, the mastermind behind the setup, and the founder of Eskay Eventz and Eskay Décor. His gamble paid off and kicked off a demand for more of those simple, bold looks. This is just one of many such moments in his colourful journey, where a creative intuition and an instinctive understanding of the mood of the moment helped make him the tastemaker he is today.
A nudge from the Universe
There are those that go through years of trial and error before finding their calling, and there are those who have always known where their ikigai lies. Saimul is one of the lucky ones from the latter category, who shares that he has always been drawn to the artistic and the cultural aspects of life. Even as a child, before the advent of platforms like Etsy, he was already crafting wall-pieces and decorative items that he would sell for “pocket money”. In 1998, Saimul suffered a terrible accident that required a long convalescence and made him re-evaluate his priorities. Enrolling at Dhaka College to avoid a study gap, he found mentors amongst the institutions alumni who guided him through creative pursuits, which translated to design-based freelance work. “My freelancing days really pushed forward my knowledge of handmade crafts. I was starting to identify proper ways of outsourcing raw materials and other associated source materials and even specialists of and around the industries” he reminisces. He also began working in marketing for a furniture firm, which further expanded his exposure, and more importantly, connected him to a client base for his design work, which included wives of ambassadors and diplomats who were drawn to his craft. “I would create designs with tant, patchwork, tapestry, katan and raw silk, utilising local materials” he informs us.
The buzz begins
The demand for this encouraged him to start his ventures Eskay Décor and Eskay Eventz in 2008, which quietly expanded without fanfare as the demand spread by word of mouth and celebrities such as Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, Pori Moni, and recently, Tasnia Farin all put their stamp of approval on his eagle eye for design. We asked him why he chose to fly under the radar in an age of loud self-promotion, and his rather frank admission was that he didn’t want to over-promise and under-deliver. “I didn’t want to spread myself too thin and fail to satisfy our consumer. But now we have a big factory and a new showroom, and tentative aims to create four or five more showrooms. I am now more confident about my outsourcing capabilities in the business of events so I hope to add value for my customers as per their requirements.” When asked about how the public tastes have changed over the almost two decades since the inception of his ventures, he replies: “It’s been an incredible transformation. Back then, most clients wanted scale and opulence — everything big, bold, and bright. Over time, we’ve seen a shift towards meaningful, concept-based design. Today’s clients want décor that reflects their own personalities and stories. Social media has also changed the game. Every frame matters now. People are looking for bespoke experiences, rich in texture and emotion, rather than just visually extravagant setups. It’s no longer about decoration; it’s about curated moments.”
We discuss how the pandemic impacted the market for events and décor. “The pandemic brought a new sense of intentionality to events. People began valuing intimate gatherings and authentic experiences over size or luxury. For us it presented new challenges: smaller spaces, open-air venues, and personalised aesthetics. But these restrictions actually led to more creativity. There’s now a stronger focus on connection, emotion, and presence, which I think has added a beautiful depth to the world of events.”
New worlds
The conversation shifts to his projects. “One project very close to my heart is Chandboti, a bridal concept film that celebrates grace and artistry. It was a collaboration with Zahid Khan and an incredibly talented creative team. The entire setup drew inspiration from Bengali folklore, with moonlit hues, handcrafted textures, and a dreamlike aura” he tells us. And indeed, the incredibly detailed set design, featuring the inimitable Jaya Ahsan and a profusion of luscious roses, has drawn a lot of admiration from netisens when the film was posted on the Facebook page for Zahid Khan’s Makeup Artistry.
It is late October as we’re having these conversations, and Samiul is busy preparing for a Halloween event at the Canadian Club. There is a sense of push and pull in his tone as he simultaneously wants to gush about the work and also keep it a surprise. “I’ll let you judge from the pictures” he finally concedes, confident that his work will impress. I ask him what he’s looking forward to in the coming year. “I’m excited to explore new creative directions — blending design, architecture, and storytelling on a larger scale. We’re planning some international collaborations and expanding Eskay Eventz into a more diverse creative platform. But at the heart of it, my goal remains simple: to create moments that stay in people’s hearts — spaces that inspire, connect, and leave a lasting impression.”