BANGALORE: From a small town girl of Bangladesh to a hot shot ramp scorcher in high streets of London, Milan and Paris; from gracing the cover pages of prestigious fashion magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar, to finding her way back to her native town and promoting the skills and talents of poverty-stricken weavers and artisans of Bangaldesh; Bibi Russell has been a true inspiration.
The former-model-turned designer, who is now popular as the face of developmental fashion, is lauded for her single-handed efforts to carry forward her mission to help the cause of the rural weavers of her homeland.
She has been conferred with titles like ‘Designer for Development’ by the UNESCO (1999), ‘Artist for Peace’ by the UNESCO (2001) and the Peace Prize by the United Nations Associations of Spain (2004). Russell was in the city recently to receive an award for her life-long commitment to the fashion world.
Expresso catches up with the designer, who strikes a chord instantly with her intriguing persona, as her love for homeland oozes through her simple khaadi ensemble, eyecatching “rickshaw style painted” frames and her colourful trademark hyacinth bangles.
Redefining fashion
“Fashion is culture. Fashion is necessity. We can live without food but not without a piece of cloth,” says Russell, who believes fashion is not just about trendsetting and that fashion can make social development.
Fashion can help eradicate poverty, she believes and notes that the topic was discussed in Spain at the recent talk on millennium goals, where she was one of the speakers.
“Fashion should not be limited to the ramps. Everyone needs clothes. I believe in creating designs that are affordable. What I am wearing is worth a 1,000 taka,” says Russell pointing at her khadi jeans and waist coat and the cotton kurta with handblock prints.
All for a cause
The weavers can create magic but they need to be assisted to make their produce suitable to contemporary tastes, the designer affirms. “I only make their product attractive. All my works are handwoven. The aim is to make sure everyone gets money in the process,” Russell says. “People mostly look at the negativity in poverty. I want to show the beauty that lies in the poverty. Don’t take away the human dignity from them,” she pleads.
Thanks to modelling
She attributes what she is doing today to her modelling days. “I grew up in Europe. It wasn’t easy back then. I was alone and stray. But I followed my dreams, pursed my graduation from London College of Fashion, and then took to modelling. I am lucky to have modelled for the biggies of fashion.”
She worked for the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani, amongst others, and in the course travelled across the globe. The travelling experience made her mature and gave her the confidence to start a self-funded project.
“It was tough to explain to the rural weavers initially. I had no one to back me,” she sighs adding, “Now we are working together, putting up shows which get fabulous response.”
Final quick byte
Ask her which phase of her career did she enjoy most — modelling or designing. Russell is quick to answer, “Both. I gave my hundred per cent while I was modelling. I give my hundred percent while designing.”
“Currently I find working with the weavers extremely satisfying,” she wraps up.
-- poonamb@expressbuzz.com