Mehrin Mubdi Chowdhury

Nobo: A craft centre of excellence

Silmat Chisti of Nobo Dhaka, knows her way around the traditional weaves of Bangladesh. Jamdani, Silk, Tangail — you name it. She can continue a well-informed conversation for hours. After launching Nobo Dhaka in 2019 along with her friend, Mitia Saleh, the entrepreneur worked hard to source, produce and promote anything and everything that was a part of the heritage of Bangladesh. At least that was the primary thought behind initiating the brand. Part of the reason why she aims to make Nobo, an authentic traditional brand is to revive and restore the heritages of Bangladesh, ones that we are almost on the verge of losing.

Wasfia Nazreen: Don’t let ageism break your spirit

The mere fact that Wasfia Nazreen, even with her extraordinary achievements and so many accolades to her name, has to face these needless validations should not come as a surprise to the world, because the reality is that ‘below average mentality’ strikes everywhere, is highly deep-rooted, and pays zero respect to any type of accomplishment.

First Bangladeshi to summit K2

Anyone following the extraordinary feats of our native mountaineer, activist, and social worker, Wasfia Nazreen, will know that she has very recently conquered one of the most treacherous mountains in the world, the fearsome K2.

Every life matters at Animal Rescuers Bangladesh

Severe flooding in the northeast of Bangladesh has left millions stranded in greater Sylhet including Sunamganj. Both human and animal lives are at stake, with almost no access to food, shelter or safety for days at a stretch. Various rescue organisations including Animal Rescuers Bangladesh are trying to access these flood-affected regions to provide necessary assistance to the survivors.

Bidyanondo: Saving lives in flood affected Sunamganj

Bidyanondo Foundation is a non-profit organisation with a mission to help poor communities of Bangladesh. As a part of the emergency response for the flash floods in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Kurigram and Netrokona, Bidyanondo teams have been helping to distribute food and water purification tablets amongst the people of the flood affected areas. Due to flash floods and torrential rain, 13 lakh people have been stranded in the peripheries of Bangladesh, and Biyanondo is one of the names that came to immediate rescue.

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II 70 years of reign there will celebrations taking place all over UK and Commonwealth countries.

The Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II: Seventy years of the monarch’s reign

Queen Elizabeth II will be the first British monarch to mark the Platinum Jubilee of her reign on June 2, 2022. To celebrate the unique and significant occasion, there will celebrations taking place all over the UK and Commonwealth countries.

A performance art consisting of 70 women from all backgrounds took place at Shilpakala Academy to protest violence against women in Bangladesh and across the world.

Himmati Mai: Symbolic protest in response to widespread atrocities against women

Saturday afternoon witnessed a unique performance art at the city’s Shilpakala Academy Grounds, where 70 women across all generations and professions took to the streets for an hour to protest against the escalating abuse against women all over the world including Bangladesh.

Increase in productivity and the 4-day work week

The new normal: 9-5 work routine not to return soon

Some people love working from home, while the rest miss their colleagues and the commotion of a proper work place.

5 international travel destinations to visit in summer 2022

Here are 5 international destinations to visit this summer to get away from your hectic daily life.

Gift of prophecy: Khona's origin story in Bangla folklore

Khona, the mythical lady of ancient Bengal was as keen and clever as her prophecies, or so history depicts her to be.

5 outfit ideas to make life easy at airports when you travel.

5 airport looks to try on your next trip

Here are few handpicked and fresh ultra-chic looks that will make travelling more enjoyable and photography friendly.

The best afternoon tea in Dhaka at Spaghetti Jazz!

Summertime is synonymous to high-tea, get-togethers with friends, elaborate dressing and ripples of laughter. Stellar afternoons can be experienced sipping lavish tea, sitting under colourful umbrellas spread out in the open, or inside chic restaurants, while relaxing on tapestried chairs and getting lost in discussions of sweet nothings.

Dhaka boutiques see rise in sales on Pahela Baishakh

“At least the pandemic has subsided and people are coming back to the stores. We reserved a moderate collection for Baishakh, especially for consumers who want to celebrate the occasion with fervour,” said Khalid Mahmood Khan, owner of home-grown apparel store Kay Kraft.

The saga of Rickshaw Art and its entry into fashion

‘Bhepu, Thamun, Bajan’ a common catch-phrase in pedicabs or rickshaws of the eighties, is now doing its fashion rounds on tee shirts.

A series of unfortunate trends

Zahed Sharif, an entrepreneur running an online jewellery store, will not be able to enjoy Ramadan as he did before. “Thanks to soaring prices of everyday commodities, in many households including mine, there will be simpler food on the table,” he said.

A lunch like no other with Kishwar Chowdhury, courtesy Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation

On Saturday, March 19, a private menu by Kishwar Chowdhury had been hosted by the famed couple Durjoy Rahman and Sania Ahsan, to an invited list of 115, which, included dignitaries from all spheres of the society. The lunch was hosted at the Prego Restaurant at the five-star hotel, The Westin Dhaka.

MasterChef Australia contestant Kishwar Chowdhury back in Dhaka

The gifted chef, Kishwar Chowdhury, has just arrived in Dhaka on March 16, after bagging the 2nd runner up position at the MasterChef Australia Season 13. The talented chef has been invited to Bangladesh by the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF), a visionary institution founded by Durjoy Rahman, supporting all kinds of artists and art forms including the culinary delights of South Asia and beyond.

Promoting Gender Equality by KrayonMag

‘Aspire to Inspire,’ a campaign initiated by KrayonMag, a social storytelling platform, had been developed last year to give courage to the women in Bangladesh, to be able to prioritise their hopes and dreams over any sort of obstacles.

The Dance Experience

We are always on the lookout for originals and Mubashshira Kamal Era certainly qualifies as one. The Naogaon based young dancer is instantly recognisable.

Breaking the bias with young minds

For International Women’s Day this year, we will be celebrating the hashtag #breakthebias. And at Star Lifestyle, we celebrate the same ideology by speaking to a few teenage ladies to understand their point of view regarding womanhood.

Role of the mother in gender equality

We have seen in so many places that the women are taught to accept their fate and be doormats to their surroundings, where in the same circumstances, men are forced to break-free and live their lives to the fullest.

Breaking the stigma with a supermodel

After the success of being able to put an important message such as ‘progressive parenthood’ and ‘body positivity’ through to the masses,

Spring is here: saris the modern women

For a millennial looking for basic contemporary options, these style ideas should be enough. However, for the sari connoisseur who wants something ‘different,’ there’s more in store.

Country roads to home: 5 most scenic roads in Bangladesh

Talking about the beauty of the country is no easy feat, still we have tried to begin somewhere and our easiest bet were the roads that evoke a sense of beauty amongst those who love to call themselves travellers.

Behind the glitz and glam of the Bangladeshi fashion industry

The allure of the fashion industry anywhere in the world is apparent, often giving out a fabricated feeling of certitude and hopefulness, when in reality there are thousands of obstacles living in ‘whispers.

Social media trials: Conflicting to the Legal Court Trial?

Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty— this is well-established in criminal law. According to this, the burden of proof lies on the prosecution,

Mental Health Post COVID-19

Today, the world is quite aware and fluent on the physical symptoms of COVID-19, largely publicised by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO (World Health Organization).

COVID-19 and the misfortunes of artisans in Bangladesh

Late 2019 saw the world face one of its toughest calamities in modern history — a deadly virus that rapidly spread across continents causing a pandemic,

Entrepreneur and MUA Farnaz Alam in the limelight

Entrepreneurial stories about women shining and making it big have become quite the norm these days. With Farnaz Alam,

Maghi Purnima arrives once more

Buddhists all over Bangladesh will celebrate the Maghi Purnima, one of their major festivals on Wednesday, 16 February, 2022.

Entrepreneur and MUA Farnaz Alam in the limelight

Entrepreneurial stories about women shining and making it big has become quite the norm these days. With Farnaz Alam, we have a comparable story of excellence where the creative makeup artist leaves a prominent mark in the much-coveted global beauty industry. Today, as DMD of Woman’s World Ltd, CEO of WW Cosmetics, and founder of Kona by Farnaz Alam, she wears quite a few hats. Nevertheless, these responsibilities only encourage her to achieve more and gain myriad prestigious titles to her name.

Tashnuva Anan Shishir at the PLITZS New York City Fashion Week, 2022

The PLITZS New York City Fashion Week, takes place every year in the heart of midtown Manhattan, exploring high-couture concepts by emerging international and USA based fashion designers. PLTIZS NYCFW is produced by PLITZS Fashion Marketing.

Remembering Lata Mangeshkar, her voice, handloom saris, sparkling diamonds and red teep

Everyone has their own personal association with the Nightingale of Tunes, whilst for most us it is mainly about the music, it is much more for the rest of us, who also consider her to be a true fashion icon.

Symptoms of clinical depression

A little research into history suggests that as a nation obsessed with festivity, colours and celebrations, depression or any other mental health condition typically takes the backstage in our considerations.

The Diaper Story

Minutes after giving birth I realised, my little one simply hated being soiled and would scream at the top of his lungs as if his tiny little bum was on fire. Right out of the blues came an angel in disguise.

Breaking the stigma associated to mental illness

There is no way, that we can skip maintenance of our psychiatric needs at any given point and still expect to live healthy and functioning lives.

Doting daughter-in-law to a magnanimous parent

The devastating pandemic seems to have defined this year and the last rather definitively; the country lost many icons, activists, leaders and entertainers.

Breaking down stereotypes about the male modelling industry

Like every other profession in the world, being successful is the most sought-after goal in the modelling industry. But the catch lies elsewhere — who is to decide what success actually means?

A candid conversation with Mehruz Munir

Zurhem is Mehruz and vice versa; if you have had the chance to visit the atelier earlier, you have already had a first glimpse into the glitzy lifestyle of the genius designer.

Badhon on movies, struggles and aspirations

“I had been flung into the raging sea during my daughter’s custody battle. This is not all, many belittled me and discouraged me through and through and yet, I rose like a Phoenix from the ashes.”

Badhon and the dazzling jamdanis in Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Khete Ashenni

I watched the web series for three main reasons — my undying affection for thrillers written by Bengali writers (this particular one also had a hint of supernatural thrown into it – talk about luck!). For the protagonists of the series, played by favourites (colossal fan of Azmeri Haque Badhon and Rahul Bose).

Beauty is all shapes and sizes

This is also when all sorts of problems begin to arise, one by one, because in reality, we find ourselves way different from the specified trajectories. We feel disappointed, neglected, and often depressed, blaming ourselves for failing to be as ‘perfect’ as deemed by the society.

Bold and Strong: That’s how women are

This is the story of Samira Syed, a Bangladeshi powerlifter, fashion and fitness model. Yes, you read it right; she is all three and much more.

Songs of the stitches by Label lmam Hassan

The current pandemic reminds us again how important it has become to shift focus from a purely materialistic lifestyle to a more holistic approach. With the climate crises deepening over the years, it has become inevitable to prioritise sustainability in all forms of existence, including the world of fashion. So what does this term – sustainability — actually mean?

The story of Manas

For few designers, it is no longer about fashion, runway, or even fame. It’s about creating a legacy, and leaving a better world for the consumers; and while on the journey if there are a few thousand followers on Facebook and Instagram then —why not?