Sashiko is a well-known decorative needlework technique among the Japanese. It is a tradition handed down from one female family member to another, where they mended holes and worn out areas in garments with patches covered by distinctive running stitches in geometric patterns. The more patches an item of clothing acquired, the more durable and decorative it became. This sustainable practice has now become a mainstream fashion statement.
If there is a takeaway from the success story of sashiko, it is that slow, steady and precise can be both profitable and trendy. Bangladesh has made the headlines again and again in the past two decades because of its RMG industry – from the rapid growth of fast fashion, to the controversies over workers’ rights in the wake of industrial disasters, the biggest being the Rana Plaza tragedy, and most recently, for igniting the #PAYUP movement when news broke of international fast fashion brands owing and refusing to pay Bangladeshi garments companies $3.7 billion, during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. This of course, led to massive unemployment and starvation amongst our local RMG workers. Fast fashion might look cheap and trendy, but it costs us more in the long run.
What doesn’t make the news more often is the other face of our local fashion industry: home-grown boutiques, brands and ateliers employing artisans who uphold a rich heritage of textile traditions that are deeply rooted in sustainable practices. These houses already lacked the international exposure, and suffered doubly when the pandemic hit and corona concerns overtook all other topics of conversation. 
