An extravagant throw had Dhaka abuzz on Thursday night, 18 July, 2019 as the country’s top designers got extra on a spectacular event by Panache, held at Le Méridien Dhaka. A glorious celebration of home-grown designers, the fashion show aimed high to shine light on Bangladesh’s culture, heritage, and originality.

The fashion show was inaugurated by organiser and CEO of Panache Hub, Sabera Anwar. And first to brave on the runway was the inspired Afsana Ferdousi and her line.

Standing for real causes such as global warming, saving the rivers, drug abuse, high rate of sexual violence, and promoting our mother tongue, her collections spoke the honest truth of Bangladesh’s weavers as she chose home-grown fabrics to display her creations in shimmers of white.

Rukhsana Esrar Runi’s collection was next to grace the ramp with her casual wedding collections in pastel shades of pink, green or shimmery white with ruffles galore, intricacy in detail and floral flows of sheer fabrics. Renowned singer, Shakila Zafar, was her showstopper who gleamed and glowed in a beige-detailed wonder of a sari exclusively by Rukhsana Esrar.

Up next, Rima Naz with atypical and asymmetrical cuts of fusion wear and capes in backgrounds of white and black, with glitters of bold yellow, green and pink demonstrated her reputation as a seasoned designer.

More on the roster was a standout collection featuring men’s wear meant to show off with élan and pride by Shahrukh Amin, a familiar name in Bangladesh fashion.

Even Jahanara Rahman showcased semi-gorgeous traditional wear enough with voluptuous pleats, sheer ruffles, and oozing glamour. CEO and Managing Director of Persona and an unmatched beautician, Kaniz Almas Khan stole the show as showstopper in a sari in black lit up with gold.

Championing wearable art in karchupi, Mehjabeen Mustafiz Simily held forward 2018’s fashion torch of the usage of pastel motifs to create her designs next. Designer Zubaida Ahbab shared a beautiful message of not letting one’s sparkle fade away as it adds brightness in the dark through her inspired collection of semi-formal modest wears with showstopper Mahzabin Ferdous, Head of Corporate Communication of IPDC Finance Ltd.

And, last but not least, Tasnuva Rashid of popular label, Hoor, closed the show with her creations, led by showstopper Sadia Islam Mou, Bangladesh’s most sought-after model and actress.

With hair and makeup left to the capable hands of Persona, the curtains drew as they opened; with Sabera Anwar humbly thanking her audience and leaving them grappling with the impact of a fashion show truly trumpeting success.