Where did it all begin? How did you fall into your passion?
I’ve always been very passionate about fashion since my childhood. However, when I was growing up we neither had cable TV nor the Internet. Our only source to get acquainted with the fashion world were dated magazines! I’d save my pocket money, buy those magazines and come home to ask my mom to make me shirts, trousers or shorts. I remember we used to get new clothes only on Eid-ul-Fitr, or if there was a wedding in the family. My mom and aunts would all sit together to make our clothes. They’d select designs from catalogues or magazines, cut pattern on newspapers, and sew the garments. While my cousins would play outside, I’d always sit by my mother and watch her going through the whole process of making a garment. I’d ask her millions of questions and she would always answer them very patiently. That’s how I found my niche in fashion.
I grew up in a big family where art and culture had been moderately practiced. I used to draw, paint, act and sing when I was in school but now, I can only make fashion sketches. When I graduated high school, I wasn’t allowed to go to art school, and fashion designing was completely an alien concept. We also didn’t have any schools that would offer any degree in fashion design. So I decided to pursue my career in environmental studies at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). After my undergrad, I went for my masters in energy and environmental analysis at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. Before I even got my library card I subscribed for GQ and Instinct – men's lifestyle magazines. After my graduation, when I was looking for a full time job in the field of environment, I started working as a part-time salesperson in one of the leading retail stores, The Colors of United Benetton. I worked there for almost a year, and I started dreaming again to get into the fashion industry.
I returned to Dhaka in 2006, and joined BRAC as a research assistant. However, I felt something was missing and wasn’t very content with what I was doing. I decided to follow my passion. I left BRAC, joined North South University as a part-time lecturer, and enrolled myself into a fashion design diploma programme at INIFD in Banani. After my diploma, I started working in the industry but on a very small scale. I was working both for men and women, but mostly women. I knew I was good at designing, at the same time I knew my marketing strategy and skills were very weak. So when my childhood friend offered me a job at his advertising agency, I took the job in the blink of an eye. I worked there for about a year and half and learned a lot about how the market works, and I felt ready to work in the fashion industry again. Soon after, I launched my menswear line at the end of 2013. As a designer my strengths are in patterns and prints. I like playing with different shapes, colours and prints. After completing my diploma in fashion design, I mostly spent my time in pattern making to understand how a garment fits a particular type of body. Since I’ve been working in the industry for almost nine years now, it has given me vast experience about different body types and shapes and how to fit a garment accordingly. Using prints and texture in my design is my forte. I am one of the pioneers in using floral prints in menswear in Bangladesh. In 2014 for my Eid collection, I used lots of prints, especially floral prints for making men's kurtas. This year I’ve also used plenty of floral prints for men’s shirts, kurtas, trousers and shorts. Another expertise I have is my exquisite hand embroidered garments. All of my handwork are very detailed and intricate. I also like hand dying my fabric to give it a unique touch. Every collection of mine always has some dyed fabric. I mostly use imported fine cotton which I collect from a local market. I spend a great time choosing the best quality fabric for the ultimate comfort in our hot, humid weather. It's one thing to follow your passion and express your art through fashion, but you must cater to the crowd. How much are your designs being made by what you want, as supposed to what the market wants? Is it ever difficult to compromise your designs because you know there is a target market to consider?
As much as I’d like to show my creativity in my designs, I’d also like to sell them. So there has to be a right balance of art and commerce to make any design commercially viable. It’s not always an easy task, however I would say I rather adjust my designs to cater the targeted clienteles.
Where do you find inspiration, does the recent fashion scene ever play a factor? Or do you just go with what you think will look good for the season?
Nature is always a great inspiration for me. I also follow the current international fashion trends, and get my inspiration from there. I went to Thailand and Cambodia in April for a month long vacation. The landscape and the temples of Cambodia have inspired me so much that I’m thinking of making a small wedding collection based on my trip.
How would you describe your style? How much does it influence your work?
It’s smart casual. Sometimes very cutting edge. I like taking risks. In fashion, you have to always take risks. And it does reflect in my designs a lot. Considering your own style, how do you see the fashion scene for men in our city? Has it improved, or do you see more work to be done?
The fashion scene for men has definitely improved in terms of fit and shape. Colours and prints – we still have a long way to go. Men in Dhaka are getting fashion conscious, but yet to be very fashion forward. Would it help to have more influential menswear designers in our country? Is it because the lack of exposure for new talent?
It certainly would. We have lots of designers working in womens fashion, but I think it’s high time we patronise new talents to work in men’s fashion.
Going through your own career, who are your favourite designers in the fashion world?
Roberto Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Rohit Bal and Naeem Khan. Is there a label that you would love to work for or collaborate with?
I’d like to work for Cavalli or Jacobs. And in Bangladesh I’d like to collaborate with my dear friend Mehruz who has an excellent taste in menswear – a forward thinker, and his craftsmanship is the best in town. We're sure that would keep you plenty busy, as you are now. When you do have free time, what are you up to?
I like cooking and baking, dining out with friends and watching Project Runway! And working out at the gym or at home everyday, one of my favourite things to do. I plug in my headphones, play my favourite music and it feels like I have the whole world just to myself for those few hours. What are the five things you never leave your home without? Your fashion or style essentials?
Keys, wallet, phone, sunglasses and my gym bag. Would you say the dreams you've had earlier in your career are coming true? What does the future hold for you? More dreams to reach (future projects)?
What I’ve dreamed of are slowly coming into reality. My only dream now is to have an outlet and show the people my design. Finally, what kind of legacy do you wish to leave in the industry? What do you want to be remembered by or as?
I’d like to be remembered by my design. Plain and simple.
