ARKA Fashion Week is set to launch on 26 October 2023
With a vision aimed at democratizing fashion within Bangladesh, Arka Fashion Week is gearing up for its inaugural launch on October 26th. Spanning three days, this event will be hosted at the Aloki Convention Center, located at 211 Tejgaon Link Road, and will run from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, concluding on October 28th.
Arka Fashion Week, an initiative by Arka Studio, is driven by a commitment to provide equitable opportunities for designers and brands of all types. This debut presents the ideal opportunity for individuals across Bangladesh to immerse themselves in the local fashion scene and experience chic designs firsthand.
The overarching objective of Arka Fashion Week extends beyond mere glamour; it aspires to transition Bangladesh from being a hub for garment manufacturing to a hub for fashion innovation. The goal is to witness Bangladeshi brands and retail labels adding cultural value through their unique creations and, in doing so, contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
Arka Fashion Week, which intends to be a bi-annual event, is designed to cater to a diverse audience with its six distinct segments. Here’s a closer look at these segments:
Marketplace: The heart of the event, hosting over 50 entrepreneurs and brands involved in fashion, fashion accessories, and related products all made in Bangladesh. Sustainability is at the core of this section, where small boutiques and e-commerce brands come into the spotlight.
Design Lab: This interactive space invites visitors to unleash their creativity by customizing plain items like t-shirts, hats, tote bags, and scarves. With seven different design stations offering block printing, screen printing, hand-painting, patchwork, and embellishments, it’s an experience suitable for all age groups.
Art Gallery: Curated by Shehzad Chowdhury and Adrita Mahin Khan, the art gallery will explore the theme “analogue to digital” through a collaborative installation featuring visual artists and sound artists.
Food Zone: Offering a diverse array of culinary delights and various cuisines, this space is more than a typical food court. It’s designed to be a hangout space, emphasizing unique presentation and seating.
Music: Each day will culminate in a concert featuring bands like Meghdol, Jol Er Gaan, Karnival, Smooches, and Dads in the Park.
Fashion Show: An exclusive and invite-only segment comprising a total of eight shows over two days. The shows are categorized into three themes: youth-centric, experimentalism, and sustainability. Expect the unexpected, as these shows will introduce unconventional elements and talents often overlooked in traditional fashion events.
This fashion show aims to shine a spotlight on emerging young designers, many of whom have remarkable talents but limited opportunities to showcase their skills. The runway will also feature designers or design students from various institutions.
Utah Group, BGMEA, Paramount Textile, and Prothom Alo serve as the gold sponsors, with MTB, YOYOSO, and APEX as the silver sponsors. Prime Bank, Scratchboard, Bhai Bhai Productions, Blitz, ICE Today, Gala Makeover Studio & Salon by Navin Ahmed, Aloki, BAYLA, Haal Fashion are strategic partners, and Rave, CAF, and Kona Cafe are the patron partners of the event.
General entry tickets are available for Tk100 and can be purchased at tickets.arkafw.com. Please note that these tickets do not include entry to the fashion show or concerts.
