The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"I do believe there is a vast market for fashionable products in Bangladesh. Simply because with time people's attitude and taste towards fashion is evolving. People have started enjoying and experimenting with fashion. The new breed of fashion buyers want to be savvy with their personality traits associated in their products as opposed to being fashion followers," said Samuel Hoque, the latest addition to the Bangladesh male fashion industry and stands out simply because he comes from a pedigree of fashion education from one of the Europe's top fashion and design institutes.

Samuel holds a one-year Diploma in Men' wear Design from the prestigious St Martins College in London and a combined BA (Hons) major degree from University of London in Marketing and Fashion Design from London College of Fashion.

Recently he returned to Bangladesh and is going to start his fashion design studio here soon. His fashion mantra is good clothes simply opens doors. He is trying to achieve with his designs to focus on personal expression, success and for individual achievements and also he is trying to support a man in his quest for individualistic self-expression and actualisation. With his design he is trying to help his consumers to express themselves and providing the right personalised attire, which is exactly right for them.

Samuel's exclusive wear includes an eclectic mix of ethnic and western wear with particular attention to an individual's needs and wants in regards to style, grooming and occasion. He works on appointment basis only, simply to give focused attention to individual clients and has his collection sales through exhibitions.

A meet the press was held at PM Lounge, Tanim Square at Banani in the capital on December 15 during the unveiling of his exclusive collection to share his inspiration and dreams to the media. Samuel himself, artist Nazia Andaleeb Preema, event curator, among others, were present on the occasion.

When asked him who is your target and would he be concentrating on the middle class, he replied, "My target is an individual who enjoys fashion and does not shy away but rather has an open mind to experiment in order to achieve a suitable style tailor made for his everyday lifestyle. My designs are about passion so I am not limiting myself to a certain class or age. If anything I will accommodate and target clients depending on their need and budget."

"I remember my parents at a very young age telling me that any individual can only achieve success in what their heart is passionate about. I felt fashion was and is my passion hence from a young age dedicated to make fashion design a craft which I should master in," he said.

When asked him in his view how has fashion evolved in Bangladesh and in that polymorphous canvas where did he see himself, he said, "As mentioned earlier slowly but surely fashion is evolving in Bangladesh, and within that canvas I want to stand out simply by avoiding to view as a business entity but rather a person who loves fashion hence creates to target any individual who wants a bespoke style which feels unique and looks effortless."

About the bespoke couture designer for men he said that fashion is a topic that pre-occupies men more and more these days. They have realised that looking good is not a department that the ladies have exclusive control over. A sense of fashion is an asset in every aspect of a man's life: business, personal and social. While there are still some that will try to fight it, the reality is that a well-dressed man will get a second look and adding, "In today's world, to stay one step ahead, it is important to try and look one's best. That means developing an own sense of style. Global trend where men are paying more attention to their appearance is taking hold in Bangladesh too. Visiting beauty salons for facials, manicures pedicures, working out at the gym are common among today's metro males," Samuel said. Samuel's working philosophy is that life is about exclusivity. Today's men look for personal expression, success and achievements. Their quest for individualistic self expression and actualisation has moved from their jobs to other areas like houses, cars and very recently towards grooming and personal appearance. He feels that uniqueness lies in every items adaptability to occasion and individuals personality. He does not produce multiple items of a design, as Samuel feels an ideal design blends the persona and physical appearance of a person and will comprise with the final look on a second person.

"Style is innate but fashion is not. But we live at a time that images of fashion is bombarded in our everyday life so may be one forgets about their own personal style and gets sucked into the vicious cycle of spending on fashion fads. My products are designed keeping the modern man in mind with an added bonus of it not being about fashion but about effortless styling and comfort," Samuel said.

His clothes are mesmerising blends of rich colour and fabric, and his signature classic white is styled in ethnic and western fusion wear with a twist. His focus in design is to make each person magnetic. He feels men in Bangladesh have more to offer and natural confidence will only flow once they become very comfortable with their personality and go for fashion and style that blends and grows through proper advised attention to details.

Values that he wants to present in his designs are passion, personality, decadence, an artistic approach which privileges freedom of expression and tailored style.

Samuel wants to establish himself in Dhaka through working with clients on appointment basis to cater to their specific fashion and styling needs and then gradually expanding within Bangladesh and in the long run in the international fashion arena.