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| Bangladeshi chic debuts in London |
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| The garments use traditional methods and materials |
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| London Fashion Week has begun on a serious note with
Bangladeshi-born designer Bibi Russell showing her new collection, most of which was
manufactured by victims of the country's devastating floods. |
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| This is the first London collection to
emerge from the villages of Bangladesh. One million people depend on weaving these
glamorous silks and cottons for their livelihood. Before the models took to the stage, Ms Russell - herself a former catwalk
star - issued an appeal for aid for the weavers in her homeland.
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All the models were
Bangladeshi |
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"At the moment Bangladesh is
facing one of the most damaging disasters in its history," she said. "One-tenth of the population do not know where their next meal
is coming from.
"Due to the devastating floods a unique craft,
and more importantly a livelihood, has been completely destroyed, along with a lot of
other assets."
Workers destitute
Ms Russell has already helped weavers by introducing
their work to the Western |
| world of high fashion through her label
Fashion for Development. When the floods hit, her workers were left destitute and she sold
most of her own possessions to buy new looms for them to continue producing her work. Ms Russell said: "One loom costing only $200 (£125) is the difference
between shattered dreams and survival. Survival not just of one weaver but also of his or
her dependent family of up to five or six members." Among the audience at the catwalk show was the Secretary of State for
International Development, |
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Bibi Russell: Inspired
by her homeland's culture |
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Many weavers have lost
everything in the floods |
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Clare Short, who added her support to
the efforts by the United Nations and the British Fashion Council to assist Ms Russell's
work. Commenting on the skills
of the weavers Ms Short said: "We think we are sophisticated but we couldn't build a
house or grow our own food but often these people live in very great poverty.
"They have wonderful handicrafts but the beauty
of tonight is to bring a world of privilege together with such people and create the
chance for them to improve their lives." |
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The collection featured
brightly coloured silk shifts and wraps in the coolest natural cotton. It was modelled by
nine Bangladeshi students who had been schooled in catwalk technique by Russell herself. |
BBC,
September 24, 1998 |
|
| Bibi index page |
| Bibi
Photo Gallery |
| Bibi in
brief |
| Beauty tips
from Bibi on dieting |
| Bibi Russel Bichitra interview |
| Bibi
becomes honorary fellow of London College of Fashion |
| Bibi Production fashion show video (real audio) |
| Bibi's US
victory |
| Grameen Uddog |
| London fashion - Bibi with others |
| Making development fashionable |
| Bibi Russel
named UNESCO special envoy |
| Bibi
Contact |
|
 BBC News archive from London Fashion
week
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| Bangladesh
acquiring new model army |
| British fashion struts its stuff |
| 'Stars
of Bangladesh' to open London Fashion Week |
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