A Wearhouse of ethnic fashion

With half a decade of experience under her belt, and no intentions to stop, Tasnim Ferdous, Founder and Designer sat down with us to discuss a little about her journey so far, and her latest collection.

Tell us when and how Wearhouse began. What pushed you to start?

Wearhouse began its journey in 2015, just as a hobby. However, with its increasing positive response and support from people all over the country, it turned into a full time profession. I have always loved designing clothes, and studying Architecture changed how I perceived fashion. Designing buildings is fun, but as a recent graduate in 2014, I felt like I needed another outlet for my creative ideas, and that’s how Wearhouse was born.

Who designs for Wearhouse? What’s the main style that Wearhouse represents? 

I am the founder and main designer of all the products of Wearhouse. However, we have also had freelance designers collaborating on illustrations, which are an integral part of our design style. Wearhouse is a very colourful and upbeat fashion brand. We promote ‘deshi’ style, art and products with a little contemporary and boho touch throughout the brand. Using lazy doodles hand-printed onto fabrics has been our defining factor. We also want to promote sustainable fashion and local artisans through all our endeavours.

How would you describe your personal style? 

Personally, my style is a mix of a traditional, bohemian, and eclectic. A majority of my wardrobe is Wearhouse, and I would probably balance out all the colour with a neutral piece, a statement necklace or a pair of earrings, and that’s it. I like keeping it simple, but bold. I love handmade products; every piece I own has some story to it, and I absolutely love it. A grey or white saree with a multi-coloured blouse from Wearhouse, with hand-made earrings and a rattan bag from one of my travels – this would be the perfect attire for me.

Tell us about the Boishakh collection. What did you have in mind while creating it? 

Wearhouse’sBoishakh Collection has everything ranging from saris, to our very famous double sided kotis, to long dresses, kurtis and trouser sets. We ensure that we cater to people of all sizes, and everybody’s needs are met. Even though red and white are the colours of Boishakh, that hasn’t been our only focus. We have made a very colourful collection of products with our own original doodle patterns inspired by alpona on floors and mud houses of different parts of Bangladesh. We have used taant and pure cotton fabrics for all our products, and handprinted every single one of them individually. 

Lastly, given the current circumstances, what message would you have for the readers of Avenue T?

The world right now is going through a very crucial time. Everything is at a halt; however, we should use this break wisely instead of feeling down and negative. At Wearhouse, we have always tried to promote more ethical fashion, trying to be as mindful towards our crafts and people as we possibly can. This situation has reminded us that we should do it more. We all should do it more. We should value the little things in life, like being able to breathe in without fear. We should learn to live in harmony with nature. The few days we have stayed indoors, nature has flourished. This shows how badly we impact everything around us. We just encourage people to be more conscious and ethical with their choices, be it fashion or anything else.

For more of their designs, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/Wearhouse.2015/