By MWB Desk
The three-part showcase was fashion’s love letter to the Big Bangladeshi Wedding
There might be plenty of load-shedding darkening the city every day, but the first weekend in October brought the razzle dazzle as all the city’s glitterati descended on Le Meridien Dhaka for the first every Bangladesh Wedding Couture Week. Presented by TRESsemme, and driven by Mercedes Benz, the event showcased the bridal/wedding collections of Sarah Karim, Zurhem and Sahar Rahman.
Each of the three nights had a theme: holud, biye, and walima, to represent the milestones of a traditional Bangladeshi wedding. The themes were brought to life by some of the biggest names in the wedding industry, from event partners, Shahjahan Wedding Planner & Event Management for event decor, Privé by Nahila Hedayet and La’belle Beauty Salon for the makeover, and K.Nasif Photography and Snapshot for photography, to name a few. Pulling out all the stops to prove that you can have that big blockbuster wedding of your dreams, with all the local talent available right here in Bangladesh.
Holud
Traditionally the loudest, most vibrant part of a wedding celebration in these parts, it is a time of merrymaking, of bonding between families and rituals of purification for the new couple. Day 1 opened with Jarwa House going for gold with a stunning collection of gold jewelry in both traditional and contemporary styles.
Sarah Karim Couture interpreted the purity of the holud rituals with pastel ethnicwear in soft yellows, mild greens and delicate pinks, wrought on breezy fabrics like net and muslin, with her signature ‘gota patti’ designs and mirror work.
Sahar Rahman harnessed the joy of the event with fluorescent oranges, pinks and electric blues on two-pieces, and traditional wear in contemporary silhouettes and a youthful energy.
Mehruz Munir stepped up to the challenge with an emphasis on print with Zurhem’s offering for Day 1. Embracing the notion of a bold, modern masculinity, his kurtas, sherwanis, coats and ethnic vests sported bright jewel tones of topaz, emerald and jade, and unabashed floral prints for the groom (and groomsmen) who have no intention of being wallflowers at their event.
Biye
The cornerstone event of the wedding, the biye is where the formalities happen. The headlining designers rose to the challenge with a royal response.
As red lighting completely transformed the venue from the night before, Jarwa House brought out the heavy gold worked with rubies and jade for the night.
Zurhem was the first of the three to take the stage, with a strong Mughal theme of kurtas, bandgalas, suits and vests in sumptuous velvets, brocades, and other luxurious materials, with heavy gold work.
Sarah Karim Couture made red the focal point of the collection, from warm red-oranges to deep burgundy and wine shades, with the heavy embroidery and abundance of sequins that she is notable for.
Sahar Rahman brought in a spectrum of deep jewel tones, with fairytale silhouettes and detailing.
Walima
The walima is the capstone event, closing one chapter, and beginning another, and calls for the rules to relax.
Jarwa House opened the event by swapping out the gold for diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Popular actress Nusraat Faria walked the ramp in a dazzling diamond set as a showstopper for the jewelry house she represents.
Sahar Rahman Couture came next with saris, kameez sets and lahengas in airy, dreamlike pastels and pearlescent shades, with intricate embellishments in floral motifs, for the delicate princess brides.
Sarah Karim took inspiration from the night sky with her collection of deep blues and midnight hues, and Art Deco influences for her lahengas, and crystal work on jamdani saris.
Zurhem brought out an exclusive line of suits in black, white and deep blues, with geometric embellishments in gold and silver. Creative Director Mehruz Munir himself took the ramp in an all-black number.
The themes of the three nights were brought to life by event partners, Shahjahan Wedding Planner & Event Management for event decor, Privé by Nahila Hedayet and La’belle Beauty Salon for the makeover, and K.Nasif Photography and Snapshot for photography, and was co-sponsored by Rupayan City, Penthouse Living, F45 Banani, Ananta Terraces, Berger, Este, City Bank, and Kawsar Chowdhury, in association with Mohammad & Sons, Jarwa House, and Judith Leiber Couture.
Photos: BWCW
