Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) is hosting the very first edition of "Bangladesh Couture Week 2021" at Edge Gallery of Gulshan from 2-4 December.

This year's Couture Week is offering a peek into the lives of skilled artisans of Bangladesh, who have been trying to keep up with multiple obstacles – from poverty and mass migrations to displacement due to natural calamities, and soaring costs of raw materials and much more.

The lure of lucrative jobs in the cities and better education is driving the younger generations away from their former livelihoods. Craftsmen now feel discontent and disconnected from their traditional crafts.

The Couture Week has been dedicated to Bangladesh's silk industry and pays rich tributes to the hardworking artisans and their craftsmanship. It highlights the country's handwoven silk industry – mainly situated in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi.

"We hope by shedding some light on the artisans' work, we can elucidate the spectators about the different steps involved in unravelling the charisma of the majestic Rajshahi silk," the Council said.

Couture Week, an event promoting high-end fashion wear, is showcasing the work of 17 top designers of the country.

Fashion Design Council has worked with the designers of this year's Couture Week and tried to discover the handcrafted identities that truly represent Bangladesh's textiles.

"We believe there's no better way to showcase the exclusivity of the fabric and the hard work of the artisans, but with haute couture: handcrafted, high-end fashion designing," the Council said.

Each designer at the show tells a unique story that resonates with their "design language."