After a year of global showcases spanning from Moscow to Sonargaon, Bangladeshi designer Asad Sattar continues his mission of championing heritage through innovation. Under his creative direction, Ami Dhaka presented its latest curated collection, Ami Dhaka x Be Here Now – Stories Woven in Gold, at the Indonesia International Modest Fashion Festival (IN2MOTIONFEST) — the world's largest wastra-based modest fashion event, held from 8–12 October 2025 at the JIEXPO Convention Centre & Theatre in Jakarta.
The presentation marked another milestone in Sattar's growing global narrative: redefining Bangladeshi craftsmanship within the context of international design, sustainability and modern modest fashion. Presented by Bank Indonesia and the Indonesian Fashion Chamber (IFC), IN2MOTIONFEST drew designers, scholars and industry leaders from across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, making it one of the most significant cultural and design exchanges of the year.
The Vision Behind 'Heritage Futurism in Modesty'
For Ami Dhaka, Heritage Futurism is not merely a design philosophy — it is a cultural manifesto. It's a way of preserving craft traditions while allowing them to evolve through thoughtful innovation. At IN2MOTIONFEST, Sattar explored a softer, more introspective interpretation of this ethos through modest fashion.
Each of the ten curated looks was a meditation on Bangladesh's textile legacies, crafted from muslin, silk, khadi, katan and block-printed textiles — reimagined with modern silhouettes and restrained elegance.
Traditional handwork such as karchupi, zardosi, katha and metal embroidery appeared throughout the collection, yet the detailing whispered rather than shouted — a testament to Ami Dhaka's philosophy of quiet strength and emotional subtlety. Drapes flowed with intentional fluidity; patterns merged heritage and futurism through structure and movement.
The result was an aesthetic dialogue between tradition and modernity, identity and innovation, spirituality and simplicity — all anchored in the value of craft as both cultural memory and contemporary language.
"We wanted to create garments that speak softly but carry deep meaning — where heritage is not just referenced but lived," said Asad Sattar, Founder and Creative Director of Arka. "Each piece from Ami Dhaka is a reflection of the hands that made it — the artisans, weavers and embroiderers who continue to breathe life into Bangladesh's cultural identity."
The Global Stage: A Collective Celebration of Craft
IN2MOTIONFEST 2025 served as a vibrant convergence of cultures and craftsmanship. Alongside Ami Dhaka, the event featured a diverse array of international designers including:
– Yodyko (Thailand)
– Bench Bello & Jay R Flores (Philippines)
– Fiziwoo (Malaysia)
– Gokhna Yvas (Turkey)
– Qooq (Turkey)
– Laura Matilde Lampugnani (Italy)
– Madame & Mister Sbiratia (Spain)
– Mkayai (Australia)
– Sheida (Dubai)
Each brand presented its own interpretation of modest fashion — blending cultural authenticity with innovation. Together, they embodied the festival's central spirit: a dialogue of cross-cultural exchange where craft becomes a universal language of creativity, resilience and beauty.
The Experience: Stillness Amidst the Noise
In the midst of Jakarta's bustling fashion scene, Ami Dhaka's presentation stood apart for its restrained sophistication. Against a minimalist backdrop, the garments unfolded like poetry — soft, layered, contemplative.
Audiences were drawn into a meditative experience that contrasted with the rhythm of fast fashion. Each thread, motif and fold became an invitation to pause and witness craftsmanship not as nostalgia but as a living act of storytelling.
Through its seamless blend of Bangladeshi tradition and modern sensibility, the collection challenged global audiences to reconsider what modest fashion can represent: not limitation but liberation, not concealment but consciousness.
Looking Ahead: From Jakarta to Dhaka and Beyond
Following its success in Jakarta, Ami Dhaka prepares to return home for Arka Fashion Week, to be held in Dhaka from 5–8 December 2025. The upcoming showcase will continue the brand's exploration of heritage as a forward-looking narrative — connecting local artisanship with the global movement towards sustainable and mindful fashion.
"Every city adds a new layer to our story," said Sattar. "From Moscow to Jakarta, we've seen how deeply audiences connect to authenticity. Craft is a universal language, and through fashion, Bangladesh has something timeless to say."
Ami Dhaka's journey symbolises the growing influence of South Asian craftsmanship on the world stage — positioning Bangladesh not just as a manufacturing hub but as a centre of design intelligence, cultural storytelling and artisanal excellence.
