United News of Bangladesh

Spotlighting creativity, innovation, and the rich heritage of fashion and trends, the third and 2025 edition of Arka Fashion Week has begun in the capital’s Aloki, Tejgaon. With ‘Denim’ as the theme for the opening day Thursday , the event highlighted the fabric’s timeless versatility, innovative potential, and unifying appeal. One of the key highlights of this year’s Arka FW is the unique addition of Masterclasses. Running from 12-8 pm, the Masterclass series on its opening day brought together some of the brightest minds in fashion to discuss various aspects of design, innovation, and sustainability. Each session offered a unique perspective, allowing attendees to explore various topics. Among the experts who are conducting the masterclasses, designer Sobia Ameen led an engaging session focusing on the future of Bangladeshi fashion, in which she discussed sustainability, talent development, and the importance of representing local identity on both global and local stages. February 2025 Amazon Prime Originals Streaming Lineup: Exclusive Films and Web Series Another unique highlight of the day was the Flash Runway, held at 3:30 pm. Unlike traditional fashion shows, this dynamic event featured participants selected directly from the audience, chosen for how well they represented the theme of the day: Denim. The chosen individuals walked the runway wearing their own creative interpretations of denim, showcasing the versatility of the fabric through a variety of styles and expressions. The Design Lab, one of the major attractions at Arka FW, is a dynamic space where creativity thrives and imagination takes centre stage. This year, attendees can purchase any blank t-shirt, tote bag, scarf, or hat from the lab and personalize using a variety of customization techniques, including block printing, screen printing, hand-painting, patchwork, and more. Beyond creating their own designs, visitors can enjoy live performances from artists offering face painting and tattoo art, hair braiding, and caricature sketches. A dedicated space will also host live art demonstrations, sparking inspiration and adding an entertaining touch to the experience. The Marketplace at Arka Fashion Week is a dynamic hub celebrating the ingenuity and craftsmanship of Bangladeshi brands and artisans. It showcases an eclectic mix of established names like Aarong, Dheu, and Arabika, alongside emerging labels such as Nuzart, Dhaka Vintage, and House of SHUI, creating a rich intersection of tradition and modernity. 3rd edition of Arka Fashion Week to be held from Jan 16-19 With sustainability as a guiding philosophy, the Marketplace emphasizes promoting homegrown talent and supporting small-scale entrepreneurs. Participating brands and artisans such as Tasha, Protibha, Shoilee, and Dhaka Vintage represent diverse facets of local heritage while incorporating contemporary innovations; and by offering these designers and creators a platform to connect with a wider audience, Arka Fashion Week provides critical exposure to budding entrepreneurs, bridging the gap between tradition and the global fashion landscape, according to its organizers. Unlike the previous editions, this year the Marketplace moved outdoors to accommodate a larger number of stalls, offering visitors a chance to explore timeless traditions and contemporary innovations in an open setting, which Arka FW highlights as its commitment to elevating Bangladesh's fashion ecosystem while fostering meaningful connections and promoting sustainability. Designed to complement the vibrant energy of the event, the Food Zone on the second floor features a diverse lineup of brands including Arabika, Just Juice, Slurps, Waffle-Up, Fruitsicles, Couch Potato, Kora Fry, Birria Stop, Shei Nihari, Izakaya, KONA CAFE, and Lueur Bakery; offering something for every palate - from artisanal beverages to savoury delicacies and sweet treats. The opening day concluded with the performances of Arka x Bhai Bhai Takeover: Munasib, Deathwail, and Bhai Bhai Sound System. Besides the usual offerings alongside several impactful Masterclasses, the second day (Friday) of Arka FW 2025 is themed ‘Modern Contemporary’ and it will highlight bold, innovative designs by Daania, Royal Bengal Couture, DHEU by SaRa, and AMI Dhaka, Kathal among others on its Runway shows, reflecting the spirit of modern fashion. The four-day Arka Fashion Week 2025 will come to its closure on January 19, Sunday.    

Arka Fashion Week, the groundbreaking event with a mission to democratise fashion, kicked off its inaugural edition on Thursday at the Aloki Convention Center, Tejgaon in the capital. An exclusive initiative of Arka Studio, the Arka Fashion Week comes with a commitment to provide equitable opportunities to all kinds of designers and brands in Bangladesh. The inaugural day of the three-day fashion week witnessed a bustling Marketplace and was alive with a dazzling array of fashion and cultural celebrations, and marked the beginning of a transformative journey for the country’s fashion industry. Also read: Personal Grooming Tips and Tricks for Better Life and Career Over 50 entrepreneurs and brands are participating in this three-day event which works with fashion, fashion accessories, and fashion-related products, made in Bangladesh. Alongside the marketplace, there are several other engaging spaces for the attendees including an exhibition curated by Shehzad Chowdhury and Adrita Mahin Khan on the theme "Analogue to Digital," an interactive space titled ‘Design Lab’ where one can buy a product and create their designs, live concerts with renowned bands and food zone. As part of the opening day extravaganzas, a pageant competition titled “Miss and Mister Celebrity Bangladesh 2024”, was held at the event. The pageant is a platform to empower individuals and enhance their talents through the grooming of a pageantry journey on a local and international level. Also read: Gemstones Guide: Precious, Semi-precious Stones Used in Jewellery In Bangladesh, the Azra Mahmood Talent Camp (AMTC) is the license holder for the pageant. AMTC also represents India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. This has been an all-inclusive camp dedicated towards a focused endeavour of transforming models and aspiring models into their world-class counterparts by incorporating years of industry experience and knowledge, transforming the dreams of all men and women into groomed, artistic versions of themselves. A total of 16 participants, 8 male and 8 female contestants participated this year, and the winners of the titles of Miss and Mister Celebrity Bangladesh 2024 were Sajria Tabassum Proma and Rajiul Islam Shadhin, respectively. They will further go on to represent Bangladesh in Miss and Mister Celebrity International 2024 in Vietnam. Also read: Freshwater Pearls: All You Need to Know