The second installment of Arka Fashion Week Summer 2024 kicks off today, June 13, at the Aloki Convention Center.
The four-day event runs daily from 11 AM to 10 PM and will conclude on June 16. Following the unexpected success of last year’s event, organizer and founder Asad Satter expressed his excitement: “We were pleased with the response we got last year. It was an unexpected success, and we wanted to bring it back.”
Satter dreams of promoting "designed in Bangladesh," not just "Made in Bangladesh."
Their signature is the marketplace concept where they are promoting young talent from Bangladesh and aiming to promote local artisan. This year’s unique theme is rooted in local artisan work.
The Marketplace features over 40 brands, including Amira Apparels, Karppaus, Indubala, Amlin Skin, Bahar, Karu, Adore and Co, Beaded, Sawla, Ami, and Kathal. Amira and Miniso are among the event’s sponsors. The Marketplace includes individuals with existing outlets or e-commerce platforms, offering fashion, accessories, and related products.
Arka Fashion Week has three main attractions this year: the Marketplace, the Design Lab where attendees can paint their own canvas, and the runway, showcasing brands and designers from students to veterans like Bibi Russell, who will feature on June 14th. “We’ve had so many senior designers tell us they’re happy to see something fresh,” Satter noted.
Face of Bangladesh, a model selection platform and part of the Asia Model Festival, took place on the first day. Organizer and fashion director Azra Mahmood explained: “Contestants who win from here will go to Korea to represent Bangladesh. The clothes and designs are very different from what we usually see.”
The Design Lab charges only for the T-shirts, hats, or tote bags, not for the designs by skilled block and embroidery workers. Plain T-shirts are priced at TK70 due to the imported fabric, according to Mansura Mahmud, lead of the Design Lab.
Student designers were selected through an application process, focusing on those eager to learn about consumer demand.
Two new additions to this year's fashion week are the exhibition on Tangail Taath, which took place on the first day, and a series of seminars. “Every season, we focus on a heritage fabric to celebrate it. This time it’s Tangail Taath,” said Satter.
Satter emphasizes the importance of connecting Bengali roots to contemporary fashion. The seminars over the following days will focus on fashion design education, Tangail Taath, retail, and the challenges facing the next generation of designers.
“We focus on contemporary modern fashion, but connecting it to our Bengali roots will give people a new flavor,” he said.
On Friday, the event will open with a student show where fashion design students can showcase their work. “It doesn't get younger than that,” Satter said. The student selection process is curated by Afsana Ferdousi, with experienced designers taking the night slot.
In addition to the Marketplace, exhibitions, runway shows, and Design Lab, the food court offers a variety of options, including Mumbai Express, Evviva Italian Restaurant, Kona Cafe, Kora Fry, and Izakaya.
