Fashion BD

Bibi Russell graduated from the London College of Fashion and at her graduate show, was discovered by Harper’s Bazaar as a model. She became one of the most sought-after models of the 70’s and 80’s working with Chanel,Yves Saint Laurent,Valentino and Armani among others.

Bibi Russell has rediscovered the ancient craft of hand-weaving and helped the traditional handloom weavers gain international exposure and sustainable income.In 1995 she founded the company “Bibi Productions”. Her work provides a platform for over 35,000 weavers and artisans all over Bangladesh to utilize their talents. Bibi works with materials like cotton, khadi, silk, jamdani and jute. In the recent years, she has been experimenting with crochet in her designs. She does a spring-summer and fall-winter collection each year and exports to Europe and Scandinavia. Her collections – under the tag line ‘Fashion for Development and Positive Bangladesh’ promotes Bangladeshi fabrics and handicrafts for domestic and international markets.

Her first European show was in Paris, February 1996 titled “Weavers of Bangladesh”, organised with UNESCO. A year later, her collection “The Colours of Bangladesh” held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain was launched and supported by the Queen of Spain. With support from UNESCO and the British Fashion Council, she previewed her collection “Stars of Bangladesh” in London in 1998. Since then, she has participated in numerous fashion shows and exhibitions at home and abroad.

She received among others, the ‘Honorary Fellowship’ of the London Institute in 1999, title of ‘Designer for Development’ by the UNESCO in 1999, the title ‘Artist for Peace’ by the UNESCO in 2001 and the Peace Prize 2004 by the United Nations Associations of Spain.

I hope that there are more people out there who will follow in Bibi Russell’s footsteps by understanding the importance of prêt to make fashion more affordable and a source of income for the impoverished.

‘Bibi Productions’ is located at House- 45 (3rd floor), Road-27, Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

FOR all of you who don't bite your nails, a trendy looking overlay on them is a must this season. But be sure to choose a fast drying topcoat to match your taste. Space age metallic shades like silver minx or sleek looking hot pinks can be the highlights while you can also settle with fire-engine red to put you into a party mood. Since summer's all about fruits and the humidity colours can also waiver between peachy shades and carnation pinks. However for a night out feel free to experiment with glitter-sweet inky black or rose gold to bring about the desired futuristic look. And if you find all these too much to take then just stick to good old sparkling burgundy for some glam!

ASSUMING the little creatures that comes out of a humanoid womb is capable of witnessing the changes around it ones it comes out; and later on when it grows up to a reasonable outline of a human being with all his accomplishments of joy, sorrow, misery and embarrassment finally has to go back to where he came from. Now, given the prerequisites, let's figure out what he actually sees during those crucial grand entrance and exit. If our wiry haired scientists, head covered religious devotees have it right, then the first thing a child sees as he emerges from utter darkness is the blinding white of light. And right before sudden or anticipated death, he sees the white light before wandering off into nothingness or the afterlife as many would refer to it. Well in that case, we can refer to it as the single most prominent colour in our lives…but purity entwined with grace in a profusion that is 'white'.

White is a colour which all of us, including the colour blind, can see and learn to appreciate for its sheer simplicity. The intricately woven details of life would seem much more sporadic if it didn't have the emptiness filled in with a colour that on some terms can almost be synonymous with it. Therefore, when one looks up at the sky or relinquishes their wistful memories outside a porch on a snowy afternoon, the colour of white is simply awe-inspiring. Then again, it is the colour that awaits the groom while he fidgets in anticipation for his union with the one he thinks he is meant to be with.

Yet, when looking at media, the West and how this colour illumes the celebrity with which they have managed to take over most of the mindless ways in which the youth and the ancient lives out their lives on a day to day basis, much appreciation needs to be given. Starting from white attire parties, to the derogative terms like 'white trash', to movies where even 'god' dresses in a white suit, and the must-not-be-forgotten powerhouse insignia of architecture, the White House….everything is white!

And let's not forget the emblem of love; the Taj Mahal.

A deeper look into culture, white becomes a symbol of not just purity but a great deal of melancholy. In the Hindu culture widows repent their ways by wearing white and having all the fun striped out of their lives. The Chinese, who always has an upper hand when it comes to embedding colours into meanings for everything in life, white is symbol for metal and is reserved for mourning of the dead. Well, death isn't a sign of surrender, we all know what it means to see a white flag being waved on the battlefield, there are but angels with their white wings carrying away the departed.

Ahh sigh… such prettiness in such simplicity and wealth in so little and yet so much. As a friend put, “white is the embodiment of all colours”, and when music is the channel to the soul, the pavement it walks on is white…