15 shortlisted entries showcase Bangladesh-inspired designs using recyclable materials

Universal College Bangladesh (UCBD), in collaboration with the University of Lancashire, UK, hosted ‘Vision & Vogue’, a fashion competition focused on creativity, sustainability and innovation through designs made from recyclable materials, a press release said.

Organised by UCBD’s Department of Fashion Promotion & Marketing, the event was held at the UCBD Gulshan campus on August 1.

Students from Grades 11 and 12, as well as GED students aged 15-23, participated in the competition individually or in teams. A total of 15 shortlisted entries were presented at the live fashion showcase, with participants showcasing Bangladeshi-themed outfits made from recyclable materials.

Alongside their designs, participants presented brand concepts and the stories behind their creations, exploring how fashion can bring together design, sustainability, cultural identity and storytelling.

The designs were evaluated by a panel comprising Paresh Parmar, Associate Deans at the School of Arts and Media, University of Lancashire, UK, and Richard Antony Brame, International Partnerships Project Manager, University of Lancashire, UK; Zainab Maqsood, Managing Director AMIRA by Experience Group; Prof. Muhammad Ismail Hossain, Provost UCBD & Zarin Rashid, Health Coach & Fashion Designer. 

Drawing inspiration from Bangladesh’s cultural heritage, including traditional crafts, colours and cultural identity, participants reimagined these elements through contemporary and sustainable fashion.

The showcase concluded with a prize-giving ceremony, with the top three entries receiving prizes worth a combined Tk 60,000. The top 15 participants were awarded scholarships in recognition of their work.

Commenting on the initiative, Kingshuk Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of UCBD, remarked, “Vision & Vogue shows how creativity can be combined with sustainability, cultural storytelling and brand thinking. We want young creators to see fashion not only as a form of expression, but also as a space for innovation and positive change.”

Paresh Parmar, Associate Dean, School of Arts and Media, University of Lancashire, said, “It was encouraging to see participants use sustainable materials to explore ideas around design, identity and storytelling. Initiatives like this can help young people build the confidence and creative thinking needed for the evolving fashion industry,” he said.

The first-prize winner, Maliha Nawer, said, “Vision & Vogue gave us an opportunity to look at fashion differently. Turning everyday recyclable materials into something meaningful and wearable was both challenging and rewarding.”