The first of its kind, Arka Fashion Week (AFW), which took place last October was a resounding success, drawing a large crowd of fashion enthusiasts, influencers, and celebrities. The event effectively showcased the talent and creativity of emerging designers as well as established fashion brands within the country. Now it’s time for the second edition of the event, which is expected to take place from 13 to 16 June 2024, at Aloki Convention Centre.
Over a course of four days, the event will showcase the latest collections of local designers and fashion brands, with a particular emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability. With a wide range of products and activities, including seminars, fashion shows, a Tangail tant exhibition, and a thriving marketplace, this time, AFW will also provide a platform for open conversations about inclusivity and sustainability in the fashion industry. The event is designed to be a powerful reminder that fashion should be accessible to everyone. We sat down with the organisers of Arka Fashion Week to pick their brains and understand what it is that drives them to host this incredible fashion festival every year.
AZRA MAHMOOD
RUNWAY DIRECTOR, MODEL, MC, & FOUNDER OF AZRA MAHMOOD TALENT CAMP
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU HOPE AFW WILL HAVE ON THE LOCAL FASHION SCENE?
AFW is a platform that started with the idea of making fashion accessible for everyone. It’s a platform that promises to promote new talent, be it designers, models or even choreographers. Being a part of the fashion industry for the past 23 years I feel that at present the industry is growing faster than expected not just globally but even locally. It was important for a platform like AFW to come up to help the new talent, not only showcase their work but understand the business, get direction and thrive in the industry. For me AFW is all about building the capabilities of the future. In simple words, it is bound to become the biggest fashion week of the country. We will surely see a surge of new designers with the capabilities of creating designs that will sell globally.
NAWSHIN KHAIR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
ARANYA
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR AFW SUMMER’24?
What impressed me most about the first edition of AFW was that it managed to bring everyone interested in urban fashion together in one uber-cool event. The festive vibe reinforced the showcase of street styles in fashion shows, pop ups and young people communicating their own style. It creates platforms where self-expression thrives, enabling like-minded individuals to collaborate and contribute to a shared vision.
I am thrilled about the exhibition we are preparing for AFW Summer ’24, where we have chosen to spotlight a single heritage textile: Tangail tant. Our goal is to integrate Tangail tant into the contemporary design conversation through our seminars, exhibition, and fashion runways. I am particularly excited about the curatorial project led by Jewel Rob. This initiative aims to connect six emerging artists with the weaver community to create a collaborative exhibition that showcases the deep history, current artistic practices, and future possibilities of Tangail tant. Both the exhibition and seminar discussions will focus on several key objectives, including educating, inspiring, and connecting stakeholders and visitors with the tradition and its contemporary interpretations, Additionally, we aim to initiate a conversation about safeguarding the cultural heritage of Tangail weaving while innovating artistic expression that explores Tangail tant in a modern context.
SHIFA MAMOON
DIRECTOR
BLITZ EVENTS
WHAT INITIALLY DREW YOU TO AFW?
We wanted to challenge ourselves and step out of our comfort zone. AFW provided a unique platform for us to explore new creative directions and it’s just the beginning. Our team strives to bring innovation into design and the whole process has given Blitz the freedom to think outside the box. Seeing people enjoy and express themselves in the beautifully designed spaces we created was a truly fulfilling experience. Going forward, we are excited to construct a fresh new concept of experience zones and more, which will keep our visitors fully engaged.
ZEESHAN KINGSHUK HUQ
E-COMMERCE FOUNDER, CXO, & CAREER COACH
HOW DOES AFW SUPPORT LOCAL BRANDS AND DESIGNERS?
AFW gives these brands and designers an amazing platform to get hundreds and thousands of customers to their shops and see their products firsthand. The event also helps them to connect with people and achieve the technical know-how for better sourcing, and it creates exposure and an opportunity for them to connect with potential lenders or investors.
AUMIA KHUNDKAR
MANAGING EDITOR
ICE TODAY & ICE BUSINESS TIMES
WHY IS THIS PLATFORM IMPORTANT FOR OUR FASHION INDUSTRY?
I think that a platform like AFW is important because it not only empowers emerging designers by showcasing their work to a wide audience, it also allows insiders of the fashion industry to see for themselves what the current generation of fashion savvy consumers actually wear and want from the market. Being part of a publication that vastly works with fashion, sometimes it feels frustrating to see the local market stuck in a loop in terms of design and diversity. In my opinion, it is high time for our industry to create trends that will add value to the local market.
AFW is a holistic approach to tackling all the different gaps in our fashion industry. Starting from facilitating a collaboration between artisans and contemporary designers to bring continuity to our heritage textile and weavers; to seminars on the nitty-gritty challenges of the industry, this edition of AFW is diving deeper into all the different issues that hinder our growth. Whether it’s by helping local entrepreneurs connect to a massive group of consumers, or by providing an opportunity to the freshers in the industry, be it designers, models or even the production crew, AFW’s aims is to expand the horizons of our local fashion scene.
Apart from all the industry based reasons, I think this platform is also important because it allows people to come and be part of a contemporary, fashion-conscious community where individuals can express their sense of style and be appreciated for it. An event like AFW makes way for all of these people and ideas to come together under one umbrella and fast track the progress we need in the local fashion scene.
SK SAIFUR RAHMAN
CONTENT CONSULTANT
HAAL FASHION
PROTHOM ALO
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ADOPT
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES?
Advocating and implementing sustainable practices during such events is no easy task. Despite the challenges, someone has to take the lead, and AFW is doing just that because it understands the significance of preserving the environment. Sustainable practices in events like AFW include using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and promoting ethical fashion. An aspect of sustainability in fashion is the preservation of local, heritage products and talents.
By promoting handmade and locally-produced items, the Marketplace at AFW plays a crucial role in boosting local artisans and designers. It offers a stage for both emerging and established designers to present their work, fostering a sense of community and collaboration within the local fashion industry.
The Marketplace emphasises sustainable practices by featuring eco-friendly and ethically made products, raising awareness and encouraging consumers to make conscious choices. Additionally, by supporting local artisans and small businesses, the Marketplac helps create job opportunities, contributing to the overall economic growth of the community.
Overall, AFW goes beyond merely showcasing fashion; it actively contributes to the development and sustainability of Bangladesh’s creative economy by empowering local talent, encouraging sustainable practices, and fostering a vibrant community of artisans and designers.
TAHSIN N CHOUDHURY
PARTNER & CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
DHAKA FLOW
HOW IS AFW DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FASHION EVENTS IN OUR COUNTRY?
AFW is a unique four-day festival in Bangladesh, unlike any other fashion event we have had before. One of the best things about it is its focus on involving the youth of the country. When we initially started, we were unsure of the response we would receive. However, once designers caught wind of this exciting opportunity to showcase their talent, they pushed themselves to new heights, presenting never-before-seen creations and highlighting their individuality. This same energy was reflected on the runway, with young designers taking centre stage. The impact that AFW had on the fashion scene in Bangladesh was truly transformative. It went beyond being a mere fashion show or festival of traditional attire. While traditional attire was indeed a part of it, AFW encouraged people to come together and create fusion works that blended different styles and influences. I believe that in the coming years, it will continue to inspire the next generation and challenge the designers of today to think outside the box. This will allow us to not only make a mark on the global fashion map but also export our homegrown talent to the world.
MEHRUZ MUNIR
FOUNDER, MANAGING DIRECTOR,
& HEAD DESIGNER, ZURHEM
HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THE AFW RUNWAY HAS THE RIGHT FLAIR?
At AFW, we carefully reviewed numerous applications to identify designers who demonstrate exceptional potential, possess unique design philosophies, and showcase rare aesthetics. Our goal was to find those whose fascinating design processes stand out. We then curated a group of designers who are as different from one another as possible to highlight the diverse nature of Bangladesh’s fashion industry. By ensuring a wide representation of distinct creative voices, we strive to celebrate and showcase the full spectrum of talent our country has to offer. This meticulous selection process guarantees a fair and inclusive representation of emerging designers.
ASAD SATTAR
FOUNDER
ARKA STUDIO
HOW DO YOU SEE AFW EVOLVING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
AFW has a lot of runway to grow into. The fashion industry in Bangladesh in a contemporary sense is both novel and immature. We hope that AFW will fulfill its original mission – to democratise fashion in Bangladesh. Fashion has always been pioneered by younger generations, and until AFW there was no platform which focused on this. We hope that it will inspire new designers and entrepreneurs alike to take risks and start the difficult journey of being a designer or brand.
We believe that it’s imperative for Bangladeshi brands to have a strong foothold in the fashion retail market. We have started to see the introduction of multinational retailers such as Levis and Adidas – and it is a matter of time until we see progressive policies which favour these retailers. Unless Bangladesh is able to get its own foothold, the local market will be overrun with brands with whom we share no cultural commonality. The risk here is not purely economical, but a social risk of the cultural identity of Bangladesh in a modern globalist world.