Bibi Russell, a great name in the fashion industry of Bangladesh as well as the whole world.
She has made a new remark in the fashion industry and pride of Bangladesh.
Bibi Russel, the astounding model, rose to stardom in the late 70s and 80s.
She is a Bangladeshi fashion designer and former international model.
Bibi Russel works to establish the plight of the handwoven textile industries and their workers in her native Bangladesh.
She is the founder of Bibi Productions, which is a renowned fashion house.
Working with craftspeople of Bangladesh.
Who is Bibi Russel
Bibi Russell was born in 1950 in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
She is the third child of the late Mukhlessur Rahman & Shamsunnahar Rahman.
They are commonly known as Sadhu Bhai and Rose Apa.
They were also devoted to cultural activities.
She grew up in Dhaka, reading in Kamrunnessa Govt Girls High School.
And following College of Home Economics, Azimpur, Dhaka.
Bibi was interested in not only fashion but also cutting up vegetables and cooking,
sewing, block printing.
She used to make her dresses with her sewing machine at the age of ten.
So being unique and having the satisfaction of having made something all by herself started at a very early age.
She received a graduate degree in fashion from the London College of Fashion in 1975.
Bibi Russel is one of those designers who has promoted her own country's culture and tradition.
If you know about Bangladesh's culture,
you will see that saree, lungi, gamcha, kameez are some of Bangladesh's regular outfits.
Unlike other countries, Bangladesh has its own culture where people from different countries are heartily welcomed.
When there is a function or marriage or any other program,
people choose mainly saree, Punjabi, kameez as their outfits.
With the inspiration from herself and her parent's supports;
Bibi Russel just has shown this to the world.
After completing her graduate degree from London College of Fashion,
Bibi started her career as a model in 1976.
She was such a perfect model with a 5'10 height.
She worked as a model in different magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Harper's Bazar.
She also worked with Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Karl Lagerfeld,
and Giorgio Armani as fashion models and later went onto the ramps.
Bibi walked the ramp with such models as Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss.
Bibi was a top model from 1986 to 1992.
The thought of working for own country came across in Bibi's mind while working as a model.
Then, after sometimes she decided to return to Bangladesh.
Bibi was not only fluent in Bangla or English but also Italian
And comfortable with Spanish, French, and German.
She mainly learned these languages by traveling around villages and got to know them.
She learned their languages and dialects.
She had to learn the trading tools for trade instead of the modern technology she had known abroad.
After returned to Bangladesh in 1994, Russell opened Bibi Productions.
Bibi's primary motive in working for her own country was to engage rural people and help them.
So, she first started working with rural people.
As of 2004, her company operated 35,000 weavers in rural Bangladesh.
With the setup of Bibi Productions,
she has given the Bangladeshi weavers and artisans the golden opportunity to utilize their skills and talents.
Utilizing fashion as a tool for economic development in rural areas has always been the aim of this social enterprise.
Her commitment to creating awareness and application for the culture is stark in every item in the store.
As a result, they can now achieve economic survival and build towards a prosperous future.
Thus she became the pride of Bangladesh.
Bibi has promoted Bangladeshi fabrics and handicrafts for domestic and international markets.
Under the slogans Fashion for Development and Positive Bangladesh.
She has provided work for thousands of weavers and artisans.
She also has presented several shows in Europe, most of which were supported by UNESCO.
Her work has been internationally recognized and has got tribute.
This tribute is in recognition of her unfailing commitment to the welfare of the others of Bangladesh.
And for her devotion to the promotion worldwide of traditional crafts.
In the case of human dignity, development, and the eradication of poverty.
Natural and handmade is another motto of her work; synthetic fabrics or artificial colors have never been used.
Bibi Production
Bibi Russell founded Bibi Production in 1996 after working somehow 20 years in Europe.
Bibi started Bibi Production with the same devotion of helping rural people.
This production mainly gathers craftspeople, especially women from rural areas.
And today this product works with more than 50% of craftsmen.
Bibi Production focuses on to collects and preserves traditional weaving techniques and culture of Bangladesh.
It helps them with giving financial stability with primary education and proper training.
Bibi approaches rural craftsmen through a project named "Fashion for Development."
After that project, Bibi Production has gradually started working with them.
While working with rural people, Bibi ensured the quality of products,
protecting and promoting handmade products, fairly paid of the craftsmen.
Products of Bibi Production are a collection of wearable menswear.
And women's wear from natural handmade raw products.
Handmade products created from natural materials like jute, coconut shells,
palm leaves, wooden beads, paper, accessories design, rickshaw art.
All Bibi Productions are either categorized as Bengali with a Western twist or Western with a Bengali twist.
Thus the trendy fusion pieces such as kurtas and features are made out of
Yamcha, lungi-print, or have designs that have trucks and lorries hand-painted on the edges.
There are also skirts, shirts (for male and female), Punjabi, and salwar kameez sets.
The saris are truly beautiful and are made out of traditional textile, especially gamcha, of course.
Bibi Productions offers bangles, earrings, scarves,
purses, handbags, bags, hair bands, and even eyewear.
Every piece is different, to say the least. Finding fashion accessories in Bangladesh is no big deal,
but Bibi Productions's works stand out because of their eccentric artistry.
Russell's accessories combine not only traditional themes but also mix-and-match motifs, materials, and styles.
However, its hopes to touch aspects of life other than
simple economic emancipation is reflected in its recent line of pieces
Created out of recycled materials.
Boxes originated from bamboo and newspaper, old chips' packets and posters, etc., are examples.
Another way Bibi Productions is operating for development is by
Developing the fashion culture of Bangladesh in general.
Bibi Russel's campaigns "Positive Bangladesh" and "Fashion for Development."
describe her dream of lifting the products of the weavers of
Bangladesh working at a ground label into the mainstream.
Gamcha is the central theme of Bibi Productions.
Thin and pedestrian to Bengali culture, Bibi modified its value to the status of social art-form.
The beauty of the gamcha is in its diversity.
It's a useful fashion accessory that bridges invisible social gaps,
whether around a ricksha wallah's waist or a student's neck.
Traditional artisans are discovering new ways of supplying this demand.
Her store carries scarves, bags, purses, saris, Punjabi's,
blouses, accessories, etc., are made out of Yamcha.
And this Gamcha fashion is known for the Bibi Russell gamcha collection.
Bibi production receives the highest recognition from the Bangladesh Government for its work.
Location: Rahman Chamber, 12- 13 Motijheel C/A, Dhaka- 100, Bangladesh.
Email: bibiproductions@gmail.com
Bibi Russell directed her first European fashion show (pioneering event by a South Asian female) in Paris with UNESCO support.
This fashion show was called "Weavers of Bangladesh" and was held in February 1996.
She also organized a fashion show, The Colors of Bangladesh, in 1997.
This show was supported by the queen of Spain and held in Palma de Mallorca in Spain.
She brought her third show with the help of UNESCO and the British Fashion Council.
This show was named "Stars of Bangladesh" and was held in September 1998.
Bibi also made her US debut at the closing ceremony of the state of the world forum.
In 2016, she participated in India Runway Week seventh edition.
Where she exhibited her latest collection on Rajasthan Khadi.
Bibi's collection was honored by the Indian fashion industry.
In the years 2016 & 2018, she showcased her gathering for the
opening show at the third biggest fashion week of India, the Indian
Federation for Fashion Development's India Runway Week Season 7.
Bibi also paid tribute to the craftswomen of Barmer,
Rajasthan, whose work was presented at a fashion show to
Celebrate Rajasthan Day in the Indian state, March 2017.
She took part in India's Rajasthan Heritage Week in December 2017, showcasing her khadi collection.
The show was her tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and to the
Traditional Rajasthan weavers created homespun cloth.
Bibi Russell also participated in the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange in February 2018,
with an exhibition showcasing sustainable fashion from the Commonwealth countries.
It was launched at Buckingham Palace with the support of the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Bibi Russell also does a spring-summer and fall-winter collection each year to keep up with the global market.
To know more about Bibi Production and about her, See this:
Filmography
Moner Manush 2009
She has earned both national and international awards for her work and became the pride of Bangladesh.
She works with Bangladesh's artisans and weavers and India, Africa, and Latin America.
Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Costume Design 2009 for Moner Manush.
Bibi Russel was awarded Cross of Officer of the Order of Queen Isabella by the King of Spain.
It was presented by the Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Arturo Perez Martinez.
She is also a fellow of Bangla Academy. She was awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the London Institute in 1999.
She was declared 'Entrepreneur Woman of the Year' by the
The foundation of Entrepreneur Woman in the same year.
UNESCO awarded her the title Designer for Development in 1999.
She has been highlighted by Asia Week Magazine as "One of the 20 people to watch in the Millennium".
UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor gave her the title
"in recognition of her commitment to the welfare of weavers of
Bangladesh and her devotion to the promotion of traditional crafts in the cause of human dignity, development,
and eradication of poverty".
She also got the title of Artist for Peace by UNESCO in 2001 and
The Peace Prize by the United Nations Associations of Spain in 2004.
She also had been a Creative Member of the Club of Budapest.
and of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative with the vision of
Implementing a global eco-social development plan.
If you ask why her work so much stands out,
then that is her sense of individuality.
From bangles to a nose ring, an array of jewelry and more are
bound to turn heads in any room she enters and tries to draw a
Mixed reaction pf awe and appreciation for her unique taste in dressing and how she carries herself.
Bibi's 90 percent work is related to textile design where
She works with khadi, cotton, silk, jute, and Mamdani.
She first makes the textile, and after seeing the outcome of the
texture, color, and much more she decides
What is to be made from it.
And most importantly, all her ingredients are from the rural, and she never changes the traditional ways of weaving.
Bibi Russel offers work opportunities to craftspeople.
In not only Bangladesh but also some of the disadvantaged regions of the world.
She encourages children to be educated so that they can contribute to their own country.
She promotes handmade natural textile.
She doesn't use any kind of chemicals that are not internationally approved.
Besides, she takes care of her products.
She designs products for them keeping in a mind number of factors,
including their taste, climate, and social bonding.
Bibi Productions exports to Europe and Scandinavia.
Her work has put Bangladesh and its heritage on the international map.
As for the country itself, Bibi's bold ensembles push the overall.
Homogeneity governs the idea of fashion, entrepreneur, fashion designer, and modeling in Bangladesh.
Giving 'gamcha' a fashion status is one example.
Russell thinks designer wear requires an oomph factor that provides it its status as high fashion.
Bibi Productions is out to do just for Bangladesh.
Reference:
1. Bibi Russell - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibi_Russell
2. Star Magazine. http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/02/03/coverstory.htm
3. Bibi Russell. http://www.bibirussellfashionfordevelopment.com/
1 Comments
Very good website, thank you.
ReplyDeleteOdisha Puri Blowing Sankha
Order Handicrafts Product
Handicrafts Product Online