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Aarong, the flagship brand of BRAC, has long been a beacon of Bangladeshi craft and heritage. Since its founding in 1978, it has evolved from a humble platform supporting rural artisans into one of the most iconic lifestyle retailers in the country. At every stage of its journey, Aarong has remained dedicated to preserving traditional crafts while embracing innovation in design and retail. This commitment culminates in its latest and most ambitious endeavor: the Aarong Flagship Store in Dhanmondi. This isn’t just a new store; it’s a monumental celebration of Bangladeshi craftsmanship, culture, and creativity.     With its grand opening, the Aarong Flagship Store has become the world’s largest craft store. Yet beyond the scale, it is the thoughtfulness of the design, the intricacy of the artistry, and the profound connection to Bangladesh’s heritage that make it truly remarkable. Here, architecture becomes a canvas, interiors breathe with narrative, and every art installation stands as a tribute to the nation’s soul. Weaving a Legacy in Concrete At the heart of Dhanmondi, where tradition meets the rhythm of urban life, stands a building that does more than offer products—it tells a story. The Aarong Flagship Outlet, designed by the visionary team at Synthesis Architects, is not merely a retail space—it is a woven fabric of heritage, memory, and movement. The design draws its soul from an age-old practice: weaving. For generations, Bangladeshi artisans have mastered the loom, interlacing threads into forms that embody both beauty and utility. This fundamental craft became the architectural metaphor—fluid, connected, and timeless. A singular, sweeping ribbon—symbolic of woven fabric—emerges from the ground, bends, flows, and re-emerges, wrapping the building in a gesture that is both gentle and bold. This ribbon, meticulously cast in handcrafted concrete, intertwines tradition with contemporary expression. It shields and shelters, filters light and air, and gracefully performs the roles of both skin and soul.     Designing for Aarong, a brand synonymous with preserving and promoting Bangladeshi craftsmanship, was an exercise in alignment. It was about giving architectural form to a cultural mission. The interior was choreographed as an experience. Color, texture, and flow were orchestrated to tell stories of rural hands, tribal patterns, and generational skill. The internal movement—voids, escalators, panoramic lifts—echoes the interlacing of threads on a loom. The building doesn’t simply house craft; it embodies it. There were challenges—limited plot size, urban code restrictions, and the complex layering of customer experience. But like the imperfections in a handwoven textile, these constraints added to the character. The architects embraced a rare construction process involving custom shuttering techniques that fused handcrafted care with structural innovation. It was, in many ways, architecture as craft—thoughtful, tactile, and deeply human. The Aarong Flagship Outlet is more than a commercial destination—it is a living artifact. A building where the spirit of Bangladesh rises through poured concrete, where ribbons of history and modernity interlace, and where the vision of Synthesis Architects comes alive in every curve, corner, and corridor. Narratives in Space: Designing Aarong’s Interior Stepping inside Aarong’s Dhanmondi flagship store is like entering a carefully curated journey through the textures, colors, and stories of Bangladesh. The interior design—an inspired collaboration between DWm4 Intrends Ltd, KNMR Ltd – Quirk & Associates JV, and Aarong’s in-house team—transforms the space into something far more than a retail outlet. It becomes a living, breathing storybook. From the outset, Aarong’s internal creative team played a vital role in shaping the vision. With deep roots in the brand’s philosophy and a nuanced understanding of its audience, they ensured the design remained authentically rooted in Bangladeshi heritage while pushing the boundaries of modern retail aesthetics.     Guided by a philosophy rooted in transparency, movement, and nature, the space invites exploration. A rich interplay of materials, tones, and layers creates a rhythmic flow throughout the store. The tactile warmth of crafted surfaces, the strategic use of natural light, and the organic integration of greenery collectively form an ambiance that is both calming and dynamic. Each area reveals a distinct narrative, woven through thoughtful transitions that guide visitors from one crafted world to another. Every detail reflects a broader intention: to connect the threads of past and present, tradition and innovation, artisans and their audience. The space becomes part of the product’s story, amplifying its meaning and value. Executed with precision and artistry by the expert team at Charuta Limited, the interior fit-out brings this collective vision to life. At the heart of this journey was the dedicated team of architects and designers from Aarong, whose cultural insight and creative vision shaped an environment that celebrates both legacy and innovation . Art Installations: Where Stories and Spaces Intertwine Beyond architecture and interiors, the Aarong Flagship Store stands out for its large-scale art installations—transforming it from a retail space into a cultural landmark. Each piece, created by a blend of independent artists and Aarong’s in-house team, captures a different facet of Bangladeshi life and heritage. The Great Arena: A Monumental Nakshi Kantha Designed by Samiul Alam Himel in collaboration with Aarong’s in-house team, this towering four-story installation reimagines the storytelling tradition of Nakshi Kantha in architectural form. Traditionally stitched by rural women to document everyday life, these narrative quilts are here translated into flowing sculptural lines and vivid, layered colors. Titled “MohaArongo: The Great Arena,” the piece stretches 44 feet high and 10 feet wide, handcrafted over six months by 250 artisans from rural Bangladesh. The work is not only monumental in scale but also in meaning. Created from repurposed fabrics, salvaged beads, and discarded ornaments, it embodies a philosophy of renewal and resilience. The piece weaves a narrative journey through rural life, folklore, urban aspirations, and cosmic imagination—stitched in intricate Nakshi Kantha techniques drawn from Aarong’s archives and reinterpreted across various fabrics. Orange threads guide the eye through this swirling story, culminating in motifs like peacocks, trees of life, and village fairs, each carrying hidden stories within their forms. Rising through the central atrium, the installation invites viewers to look upward and

Shaping Bangladesh was one of the most prestigious events of Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine, organized by BCMEA (Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association). The event gathered many renowned and well-known architects, engineers, industry leaders, and industry personnel from different sectors under one roof. It was a different way of introducing the new ways of rebuilding and reshaping Bangladesh with many unique and extraordinary ideas and thinking of brilliant minds and visionary individuals of the country. Without the support of the sponsors, the event would never have happened in reality. It was the encouragement, support, and dedication of the valuable sponsors who have come forward to make this event successful and create a new buzz in the town. On that note, special thanks to all the sponsors and partners of the event for making a special and notable contribution to the event and playing their part crucially. Valued Sponsors of Shaping Bangladesh Special recognition and deepest gratitude to the valued sponsors and partners for providing their invaluable support. Their generous contribution has played a significant role in making this event possible and helping BCMEA bring all the valuable communities together to promote a meaningful experience. The valued sponsors of Shaping Bangladesh were: • Platinum Sponsor: Akij Ceramics Limited • Powered by Sponsors: Meghna Ceramic Industries Limited. and X Ceramics Limited • Associated Sponsors: Sheltech Ceramics Limited, DBL Ceramics Limited, Mir Ceramic Limited Event Partners: • Gift Partner: RAK Ceramics (BD,) Ltd. • Media Partner: The Business Standard • Hospitality Partner: Dhaka Regency and Chuti Resort • Wardrobe Partner: Fiero   • Other Supporting Partners: 01. BHL Ceramic Co. Ltd., 02. Mirpur Ceramic Works Ltd., 03. Ali Ceramic Ind. Ltd., 04. Adroit Swimming Ltd., 05. Nupami BD Ltd., 06. Amber Board Mills Ltd., 07. Lonon BD BCMEA and Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine are extremely grateful and honored by their presence and collaboration for the event, and they also look forward to continuing these valuable relationships in the future by working together. Top 5 Contributors in 5 years journey of Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine Shaping Bangladesh was not only an event to gather the brilliant minds, but it was also a remarkable celebration for the 5-year successful journey of Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine. BCMEA and Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the constant supporters of the publication. Here are the top 5 contributors of the Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine in last 5 years who have helped to sustain the publication and allowed the magazine to grow, evolve, and continue delivering quality content to the readers, and showcase unique and extraordinary stories through the lenses of writers and photographers. Moreover, the continuous and unwavering belief in the publication was the cornerstone of this event’s success. The partnership has made the event more meaningful. BCMEA and Ceramic Bangladesh Magazine are truly honored to have all the sponsors, partners, and contributors by their side and look forward to continuing this journey together by building more impactful and significant years ahead.