Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh's first-ever Bangladesh Couture Week 2021 concluded Saturday at the Edge Gallery in Gulshan with a special award giving ceremony, honouring celebrated Bangladeshi style and fashion icons.

Noted actress Shampa Reza received the Style Hall of Fame award, while singer-actor-musician Tahsan Khan and popular actress Jaya Ahsan bagged the Style Game Changer award.

Beauty icon Farzana Shakil, renowned singer, dermatologist and pioneer in laser treatment Dr Jhumu Khan, and General Secretary of Gulshan Society Barrister Shukla Sarwat Siraj received the Most Stylish Personality award at the event, for their individual and influential contributions in the society.

Young heartthrob actor Siam Ahmed, 'Rehana Maryam Noor' famed global award-winning actress Azmeri Haque Badhon (currently travelling in New York, US) and model, television presenter and fashion choreographer Azra Mahmood received the Style Trailblazer award, while revered singer Mehreen Mahmud received the Style Innovator award and popular singer Xefer Rahman bagged the Most Stylish Music Star award, among others.

FDCB Founder President Maheen Khan handed over the awards to the recipients, who were greeted with flowers by FDCB General Secretary Shaibal Saha.

In her acceptance speech, veteran actress Shampa Reza said, "I have always been an avid lover and spokesperson of our own crafts and culture. We have a rich and age-old cultural heritage including the artistic, handmade and comfortable clothes such as our Masleen, however, our cultural identity has been jeopardized in recent years. My agenda is to fight against that, and I truly appreciate FDCB's effort towards our fashion industry."

Style Game Changer award recipients Tahsan Khan and Jaya Ahsan lauded FDCB's initiative to appreciate the personalities, while Azra Mahmood said that FDCB filled the void of a much-needed recognition in the Bangladeshi fashion industry.

Other award recipients also appreciated FDCB's effort towards promoting the fashion of Bangladesh and expressed their gratitude for the honour.

"Over the years, we, the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh, have held a number of fashion events to promote the homegrown textile industry in Bangladesh, with the sole intention of supporting the sector and aiding the livelihoods of the skilled artisans of our country. This was our first-ever Bangladesh Couture Week as a homage to our handwoven silk industry, situated particularly in the district of Chapai Nawabganj, Rajshahi - and it is our utmost pleasure to honour these iconic and stylish personalities with these awards, who have been continuously promoting our crafts and upholding the pride of our country," FDCB Founder President Maheen Khan said at the concluding ceremony.

With the hope to steer and promote the Bangladeshi silk community and its patrons through this 3-day long fashion exhibition and event, FDCB, the nonprofit organization being the host of this first-ever Couture Week, further aspires to promote artisanal work and advocate home-grown textiles and designs to the mass audience with their efforts and endeavours.

The maiden edition of Bangladesh Couture Week has essentially promoted high-end fashion wear, showcasing 17 top designers of the country. The famed designers taking part in the event were Chandana Dewan, Sarah Karim, Faiza Ahmed, Maheen Khan, Farah Anjum Bari, Shaibal Saha, Farzana Nova, Tasfia Ahmed, Sadia Rashid Chowdhury, Rifat Rahman, Rupo Shams, Rima Naaz, Afsana Ferdousi, Sharukh Amin, Lipi Khandker, Nawshin Khair and Emdad Hoque.