Bangladeshi fashion designer Rokaiya Ahmed Purna has won a number of international awards for her unique work. Her latest work, “Designed in Bangladesh in collaboration with German footwear brand ekn,” has created a buzz at home and in the international arena.
Her eco-friendly vegan sneakers—known as “ekn Kamthala”—are inspired by jackfruit, Bangladesh's national fruit. It created a buzz in the European market in 2023 and soon became popular all over the world.
All vegan materials are used in these handmade sneakers. Even the sole is made of recycled materials.
The colour of the sneakers was inspired by ripe jackfruit. The design on the front shows the smooth edge of the fruit. The rest has a grey texture, much like the bark of a jackfruit tree.
Rokaiya was featured on the German Embassy Dhaka's Facebook page yesterday under its #feminismfriday initiative to empower Bangladeshi women. The post said Rokaiya, the creative force behind the “RAP” Designed in Bangladesh label, weaves Bangladeshi culture into every thread.
Teaming up with “ekn”, the German brand, she is breaking fashion norms with the eco-chic vegan sneaker, which is a step towards ethical fashion in the Global South, the embassy said.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, she said: “It is time to move from Made in Bangladesh to Designed in Bangladesh identity while growing with both in parallel.”
She mentioned that the tagline of her specialized sneakers is “Let’s turn our world upside down.”
A graduate from the BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology, Rokaiya later completed a product development project at Saxion University. She founded the Design in Bangladesh platform, the Design in Global Foundation, and the signature label "RAP." She is also working as a lecturer and consultant, with extensive knowledge of the garment and fashion industries.
She has exhibited her work at the Denim & Jeans International Show, India's International Loin Loom Festival, China's Wuhan Fashion Week, New Zealand's ID Dunedin Fashion Week, the Fashion Symposium Exhibition, the Otago Museum Exhibition, and Russia's Global Talent Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
She was awarded twice at the Denim & Jeans International Show in consecutive years. She also won the Excellence Award in Wuhan and the Entrepreneurial Prize in Dunedin, New Zealand.
According to Forbes, Rokaiya, after showing her collection at Russia’s Fashion Week in 2019, was identified as redefining Bangladeshi fashion on the world stage.
She has made it her life’s mission to help empower ethnic and minority women through skill development training and inspire others in Bangladesh.
Rokaiya specializes in native textiles and expresses Bangladeshi cultural background throughout her collections. Her creations can be seen on her own "RAP" label, which has become much more than a destination for timeless Bangladeshi culture fusion and couture.
Rokaiya has also gained an international reputation as a Unesco youth through her lasting and significant contributions to the fashion and creative industries. Last year, she represented Bangladesh at the 13th Unesco Youth Forum.