The first Buft National Apparel Festival concluded on Sunday (19 July), drawing over 2,000 undergraduate students from 32 universities, colleges and student clubs across Bangladesh.

Organised by the Buft Apparel Club, the two-day festival featured competitions, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, masterclasses and cultural programmes at the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (Buft) campus.

The festival opened on 18 July at the university’s Multipurpose Hall, with Buft Vice-Chancellor-designate Professor Dr Engineer Ayub Nabi Khan chairing the inaugural ceremony.

Buft Board of Trustees Chairman Faruque Hassan attended as chief guest.

Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Director of the Technical Wing (Current Charge) Md Moslem Uddin, Director of Jute Textile and PTC Dr Ferdous Ara Dilruba, and Chief Scientific Officer of the Jute Textile Wing Dr Engineer Nazmina Chowdhury attended as special guests.

Buft Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Acting) Professor Dr Md Alamgir Hossain, Faculty of Apparel Studies Dean Professor Dr Engineer Mohammed Rubaiyat Chowdhury, Students’ Welfare Office Director Professor Dr Md Waliul Alam, Department of Apparel Manufacturing and Technology Assistant Professor and Head Md Monirul Islam Rajib, and Buft Apparel Club Adviser Shadman Quamar Mahir were also present.

The opening ceremony was followed by the preliminary rounds of the Apparel Olympiad, which tested participants’ knowledge of global fashion trends and textile science, and the “300 Seconds Innovation” poster presentation on textile sustainability and apparel and fashion innovations.

Workshops and other student engagement activities were also held on the opening day.

The second day featured the final rounds of the competitions and student exhibitions at the Exhibition Arena, followed by seminars and masterclasses at the Multipurpose Hall.

Faruque Hassan attended the second day’s programme as chief guest.

Fakir Fashion Managing Director Fakir Kamruzzaman Nahid; Bangladesh Textile Mills Association President Showkat Aziz Russell; Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association Senior Vice-President Amal Podder; Shin Shin Group Chairman Mohammad Sohel Sadat; Britannia Garment Packaging Assistant Director Alvin Ahmed; Giant Group Director Sharmeen Hassan Tithi; and Professor Dr Engineer Ayub Nabi Khan attended as special guests.

Pearl Global Industries Ltd Vice-President of Human Resources and Administration Rajib Singha delivered the keynote address.

The afternoon session began with a prize-giving ceremony, where the winners of the competitions received awards. A fashion show, cultural programme and concert followed, bringing the festival to a close.

Faculty members, officials and students attended the programme.