Wowing with their weaves

If there is one thing that you shouldn't have missed in November, it was the International Weavers Festival 2016, held at the Army Museum from November 17 to 19, 2016. The TS Events of Bangladesh organised this festival to celebrate, highlight and promote the distinguished weaving arts of the different regions of Bangladesh. This initiative was taken to revive and internationalise the handloom industry, and to give recognition to the women who contribute substantially to the industry's prosperity. This festival also showcased the weaving heritage of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka by combining a couple of distinguish initiatives and cultural events. The International Weavers Festival left a lasting impression by creating a new vision in fashion through khadi, jamdani, muslin, gamcha, benarasi, and indigenous designs. The festival was inaugurated by Nasrul Hamid MP, state minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, who praised the uniqueness of this endeavour and called it an inspiration in starting a “buy deshi, wear deshi” movement. The first day of the festival was dedicated to khadi and jamdani designs. Local designers of Anjans, Prabartana and Reema Naz started the fashion show with their vibrant designs rendered in khadi in different colours, prints and patterns. In the next queue, models draped specially woven jamdani saris around themselves, where a few designers even used velvet for embellishment. Apart from that, lehengas, panjabis and kameezes were shown as well. The second queue was represented by Tangail Saree Kutir, Zeenat boutique, and Moon's boutique. On the first day, Indian designer Arnob Sengupta and By Loom displayed their handloom products. On the second day, State Minister of the ICT Division, Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, said in his welcome speech that the weavers who are unrecognised will soon be included into the ‘E-shop Programme’ of the government. The second day was devoted to beautiful designs of gamcha and elegant muslin. Fashion designer Emdad Hoque, Ivy Hasan and Biplob Saha showcased various types of sari, top, shirt, panjabi and fotua made with gamcha. Wahida Hossain, Rehma Hossain, Tootli Rahman, Samuel Hoque and Sarah Rahman displayed their special collections of muslin sarees. Their muslin saris was extravagantly ornamented with hand paints, mirrors and glitters. Sri Lankan designer Silverin also showcased their traditional handloom clothes. On the last day, fashion designers Tenzing Chakma, Afsana Ferdousi, Farzana Malek, JS Fashion, Lebas and Farah Anjum Bari brought indigenous designs and benarasi into the fashion fold. Nepali designer Shushoma Singh brought an off-shoulder gown, wedding gown, panjabi and traditional Nepali wedding clothes. Among the fashion displays, Tootli and Samuel’s Fashion Drama was really distinct and unique, and left a lasting impression on the crowd. Tootli teamed up with London-based menswear maverick Samuel Hoque for something truly unforgettable. Fashionistas familiar with the work of either of the two know to expect the unexpected, and this new collaboration did not disappoint. The duo’s segments titled ‘Fashion Drama’ married centuries of tradition with contemporary flair, and was a conversation between fashion and theatre.   Photos: Courtesy