Facebook platform to promote local products

In order to promote all kinds of local products, Sabera Anwar, a fashion entrepreneur and owner of Panache Hub and Events, has opened up a group on Facebook named "GoDeshi-Made in Bangladesh".

The platform not only targets fashion items such as clothes but also local food, handicrafts, decorative pieces, scented candles and so on.

"My main purpose was to create a movement for 'deshi' fashion since I am directly involved in this," she told The Daily Star.

"When the lockdown hit us this year, I understood it's not going to be normal soon. I planned to rename a group [GoDeshi] on Facebook, which I started last year," she added.

"As the second-largest garments exporting nation, we must produce our products to support local fashion needs. So, I am dreaming high to establish a brand with a desire to create an umbrella larger than life to support every artisan, every designer & every producer," said Sabera.

She said, "I started adding friends & colleagues in the group & set few rules for selling products. Within a week one, it hit 1k members and an enthusiastic group of sellers selling fantastic homegrown fashion products to lifestyle products."

Sabera said she had mainly created a platform for local designers through organising fashion exhibitions and through her store by accommodating young designers there.

"I felt that it was the right time to launch my idea and become active in the group, and I have received tremendous support from the big names of the fashion industry so far. Within 3 weeks, we had more than 38,000 members in the group," she said.

"I kept it up until last week, when I saw about 800 designers and entrepreneurs added to this platform. Its number is increasing day by day. It is growing at such a rate that it is no longer possible to keep track," added Sabera.

Big names in the fashion industry started posting in GoDeshi. Hand painted coasters to ludo set - amazing ideas started pouring in. People started loving this group.

"I saw weavers are actively participating in the group by selling their products. When they text me to let me know about their sale, I feel overwhelmed with joy," said Sabera.

In the initial weeks there were 150 sale posts per day. Now it has grown up to 600 sale posts each day. So far, some 90 per cent of the sellers are female, told Sabera.

Goods being sold in this platform include fashion clothes, leather goods, shoes, clay pots & clay cookware, handmade ceramics, furniture, hand painted decoupage furniture, jewellery, hand painted coasters, wall hangings, carpets, handloom fabrics, jamdani etc.

Sabera said now the creation of a website was underway which would work as a permanent platform for fashion enthusiasts, designers, and artisans.

"Now as I am getting support from every quarter, I want the good works to be spread to every corner of the country. For this purpose, we are having our website www.go-deshi.com in a month along with a user-friendly app to purchase these fantastic items from anywhere in this world," she told.

Entrepreneurs can post three posts in a day and also any kind of promotional activities.

Renowned fashion designer Emdad Haque is involved with the platform as an advisor.

"When the entrepreneurs call and tell me so far, they have sold products worth one lakhs, two lakhs, and they thank me for it, I become very inspired," Sabera said.

Sabera plans to keep the platform engaged and run campaigns, workshops, and exhibitions for the local craftsmen.

She dreams of establishing a shop which will display all of these amazing products on better and brighter days.

Sabera thinks "Go Deshi" and "Wear Deshi" should be practiced for the next 10 years to make the country's economy strong again.

"In future we need help from the government, for building capacity. To make these entrepreneurs and designers more organised," said Sabera.