Stride – Transforming Dying Rickshaw Art into Fashion Statement

Metropolis Report –

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Rickshaw painting is a dynamic form of urban folk art in Bangladesh. Though rickshaws have been plying the streets since the 1940s, illustrations only started to adorn them in the 1950s. On the city’s hectic streets, the rickshaws’ rainbow-colored hues make them impossible to miss. Rickshaw art is still capturing moments in Bangladeshi life and giving people a platform to express their views on popular culture, beliefs, and goals. In addition to being painted, rickshaws are also embellished with tassels, tinsel, and vibrant plastic.

Despite the global prominence through the nomination of rickshaw art in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018, this seven-decade-old craft is gradually disappearing. To preserve this dying art form along with many others through contemporary methods, Stride, a fashion wear brand, has been producing attires infused with the legacy and culture of Bangladesh. 

Tasmit Afiyat Arny, a fashion designer and the founder of ‘Stride’, started working with the rickshaw art form in 2018 at the national costume segment of ‘Miss Landscape International’, in which every country could showcase and represent their own culture through outfits. After winning an award in the ‘best national costume’ category, Arny got more inspired and started working and researching more as a concept artist. She designed the national costume for the Bangladeshi participant, Shirin Shela, at the Miss Universe competition in 2019. The costume was developed with a red jamdani saree and Bangla alphabet jewelry with the backdrop of a green rickshaw hood adorned with Pahela Baishakh Mangal Shobhajatra masks, which was a perfect portrayal of our national flag along with the representation of our rich culture and heritage.

After getting worldwide recognition for rickshaw art forms, Tasmit Afiyat Arny started applying them to the fabric. She made her wedding lehenga with pure rickshaw plastic and an authentic rickshaw motif. In addition, the guests’ dresses were made with a picture of the wedding couple’s faces in a rickshaw painting style. Moreover, the invitation card was made with seed paper consisting of 15 to 20 tomato seeds in it, which will grow trees if planted. With these heritage-rich and eco-friendly approaches, Arny said, “I wanted to make my wedding a real example of my vision to express my idea.”

Tasmit Afiyat Arny has the vision to continue experimenting with rickshaw art forms and showcasing them in the global arena. With 11 years of experience as an art director and a fashion designer, she is more confident than ever to showcase and apply more rickshaw art forms. As said by Arny,

“The vibrant Color of rickshaw inspires me to explore, experiment with it.”