Fashion may be the way of development and survival. It can be an excellent idea to come out from extreme circumstances of poverty. The idea of survival through fashion comes from the legendary name BIBI RUSSELL. It is a great surprise that she comes from a developing country like Bangladesh. But this developing country also has its power to turn back through other identity and it is proved by the name of BIBI. She is the first woman in Bangladesh who went abroad to study at London College of Fashion on fashion design. She was born in Chittagong and comes from a very well known family. Her father was Sadhu Bhai (Late Mokhlesur Rahman) and mother Begum Shamsunnehar Rahman (Rose) who were very prominent personalities in the Bangladeshi media.
To fulfill her desire about studying on fashion designing, BIBI starts journey after completing Higher Secondary Examination and became a graduate on Fashion Design at 1975 and modeled her own graduation show. Because of her potentiality, enthusiasm, quick learning capability, she was swiftly offered modeling assignments with an impressive array of designers, Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani to name a few. BIBI worked as one of the leading models for Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Karl Lagerfield and Giorgio Armani for nearly a decade. She had been featured in top magazines including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan.
fabric in her design. She has choreographed and arranged many fashion shows and exhibitions in Bangladesh and Europe by these. She works with the all vibrating colors, various fabrics, history and ethnic value of Bangladesh and works with the people of grass root level. She always thinks off the historical fabrics eventual with the moment. With her work she tries to promote our valuable history with a group of poor people. Still BIBI is a renowned name in the fashion world because of her extra ordinary works which can’t be shown by others. With the help of Dr. Federico Mayor, secretary general of UNESCO, BIBI launched a fashion show in Paris in 1996. The show was called ‘Weavers of Bangladesh’. Her second show was also with UNESCO a year later on, was aptly named ‘The Colours of Bangladesh’, and was held in Palma De Mallorca, Spain. It was launched and supported by the Queen of Spain. BIBI was the first designer from the developing world to participate in the 1998 London Fashion Week. This was the first London collection to emerge from the villages of Bangladesh where about one million people depend on weaving glamorous silks and cottons for their livelihood. Her Slogan “Fashion for Development” starts with its own phase. After that BIBI doesn’t have to look back. Rather she was able to get huge responds from them.
‘I don’t believe in charity’. BIBI believes that charity can’t make anyone happy in a long run because it is given to one person at a time and after that the person will finish it quickly and show his hand for more once again. But BIBI realizes that if the hands are made strong for earning these will not become burden, rather it will be magical. BIBI wants to show the possessiveness to the world through the magical beauty of poverty. By her education, experience and willingness to do better, she comes forward to give chance to the poor people. The thousands of tailors, its employs are an inspiring example of micro financing. She now employs more than 30,000 people, consisting of knitters and artisans that produce her original designs. Spinning, twisting and dyeing provides employment for a whole Deshi family highlighting her motherland. BIBI’s mission is to encourage people to move beyond limitations and reach for their dreams. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing everyone's contribution as a team member in life's pursuits. As a dynamic stage presence, BIBI captures the attention of her audience instantaneously and never lets them go. She combines hard particulars, specific strategies and personal insights to create a powerful message among all. Her ability to connect with the heart makes her one of the most influential female figure in Bangladesh. BIBI RUSSELL’s aim is to work for the craftsmen of Bangladesh with a view to reviving handloom industry by giving support and assistance. Bangladesh, though beset with poverty, is rich in traditional fabrics, which has great demand beyond the border. BIBI's dresses may be the height of fashion but the technology that produces them is centuries old. It all starts with silk cocoons, which are laboriously unraveled into shimmering thread. Her contribution to the fashion houses of Bangladesh after her return from Paris to Dhaka is an inspiration to many and will encourage up and coming designers to work with local fabrics. Bibi Productions is an enterprise that is the only one of its kind in Bangladesh which talks only about the root. The workforce consists of young people (mainly artists) that promote local crafts, including handloom weaving, recycled paper, and indigenous textile design. There she mingles colors, fabric, trends with modernity and tries to catch up the people at this era. Her all contribution is only to help those people whom she wants to give a new identity against poverty. She declares the most beauty lies in the poverty and her belief is on Fashion for Development. She tries herself hard and soul to make her dream alive. All colors she uses in her design just speak off that. With a view to promoting her belief she uses all bright colors worn by many top models in the world. Thus she wants to show the world a Positive Bangladesh through color.
‘Everyone thinks Bangladesh is a poor country. For me - it's rich in culture and everything. It gives me a lot of energy _ I live in Bangladesh. Most of the time I'm in villages and I'm competing with top designers.’- BIBI RUSSELL.
BIBI has received both national and international awards for her work with the artisans and weavers in Bangladesh. She has been honoured with an Honorary Fellowship from the London Institute (1999), Women of the Year by Elle Magazine (1997), and Entrepreneur Woman of the Year (1999) by the Foundation of Entrepreneur Women. She has also been highlighted by Asia Week Magazine as one of the ‘20 people to watch in the millennium.’ UNESCO named her ‘Designer for Development in 1999 for her unfailing commitment to human dignity, development and the eradication of poverty. This title was replaced by the title Artist of Peace in 2001. She won critical acclaim at the London Fashion Week the first time she showed her khadi and handloom collection, got Harrods to stock up her designs, and had an eventful debut in the U.S. too. She received the Women Awards 1999, at El Palauet Luca, Barcelona in recognition of Bibi Productions in Bangladesh.
BIBI RUSSELL dreams for positive Bangladesh. Her suggestion for developing weaver and handloom is not only for Bangladesh but also for all over the sub continental countries like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and others. Here people have to fight regularly in the natural calamities. The picture of this hazardous people is common in the outer world. BIBI just tries to make them magical through the weaver development. Her Bibi Production works with these poor people and at present BIBI is promoting their works to the outer world. With her dynamic action she makes many jobless people employed and brings out something more potential from them. At present villages are running with machines and men and people are producing for earning. Her dresses are shown in the international Fashion Show by the foreign models. Many famous artists and renowned people wear her designed dresses. Thus BIBI makes her own brand in the fashion world. This BIBIANIAN way of development creates her market in the foreign world where BIBI is not only a person but also a symbol of success. It is true that she has to struggle a lot for this establishment. Still the way is so long and she is ready for the battle of development for Positive Bangladesh.
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