The beauty of handwork is best showcased in sarees, and it’s no different for the local brand Banani’s Go Deshi line.
Faiza Islam, a young fashion entrepreneur, has been working with hand-painted clothing for over a decade. Now, she finds herself busier than ever. One of her female customers shared a cherished memory with Faiza of a large pond at her grandmother’s house, surrounded by Sonalu trees. When these trees were in full bloom, the flowers would float in the pond, creating a golden view, alongside ducks that would wander around the water. Although the grandmother’s house, the pond, and the Sonalu trees no longer exist, the memory of the “golden pond” remains vivid.
Inspired by this story, Faiza painted a saree that brought tears to the customer’s eyes upon seeing it. She felt as if Faiza had brought her memories to life. The customer chose to wear this “golden pond” saree for her wedding.
For occasions like weddings, Gaye Holud, or leisure trips, many turn to Faiza for customized outfits. The prices start from 5,000 BDT, with silk and muslin sarees selling for between 20,000 to 25,000 BDT. Faiza enjoys the process of customizing outfits because it involves storytelling – each garment tells a personal tale, making the art of bringing these stories to life through fashion her ultimate challenge.
This Eid shopping season, hand-painted apparel has particularly caught the eye. Not only in sarees, but also in Punjabis and Kamizes, hand-painted designs have made their mark across stores.
A visit to the Eid fair at Tejgaon-Link Road in Dhaka revealed a special focus on hand-painted designs in apparel, especially sarees. Sometimes, embroidery and handwork are added on top of these painted designs, further enhancing their beauty. A similar trend was observed at a recent fair for small entrepreneurs organized by Midas, showcasing a wide range of fashion items adorned with tie-dye, traditional embroidery, digital prints, Kalamkari, and hand-painted designs.
The current fashion trend also includes the style of rickshaw painting, indicating a blend of traditional and contemporary influences.
Conversations with multiple fashion entrepreneurs reveal that sarees offer the best canvas for showcasing the beauty of handwork. Sarees stand out among other garments for their ability to elegantly present hand-painted designs, with prices ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 BDT, although more expensive options are also available.
In both online and offline fashion markets, not only sarees but also blouses, Punjabis, T-shirts, three-piece sets, scarves, skirts, tops, children’s wear, bed sheets, curtains, cushion covers, bags, shoes, glasses, jewelry, and home accessories are being sold with hand-painted designs. Hand-painted prints are also gaining popularity.
The hand-painted lampshade is another example of how this art form extends beyond clothing, demonstrating the versatility and appeal of hand-painted designs in enhancing the beauty and uniqueness of various items.
As the Eid festival approaches, the fashion scene in Bangladesh is vibrant with the presence of hand-painted designs, adding a colorful touch to the celebration.
