Spring Festival for women entrepreneurs begins in Chattogram

A two-day Spring Festival, showcasing the products of women entrepreneurs, started in Chattogram on Friday.

Thirty-seven women entrepreneurs from Chattogram and Dhaka are participating in the festival organised in Sheesh Mahal Hall of Terracotta Restaurant in the port city.

The festival organiser, Alins Vogue, a boutique shop, and participating entrepreneurs expressed their hopes that the festival will play a significant role in branding their organisations as well as attracting new buyers.

Khadijatul Anwar Soni, lawmaker from the reserved seats for women in parliament, inaugurated the festival at 5pm on Friday.

Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS

Visitors thronged the stalls displaying products – including saris, clothing, jewelry, shoes, home decor products, homemade foods, and pickles – at the festival on its opening day.

Merina Zaman Momi, owner of dress shop She's by Momi, said, "Such events involving women entrepreneurs play a positive role in the branding of the organisation. They attract new buyers."

Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS

Along with stalls of women's dresses and cosmetics, mehndi (henna) stalls at the festival have attracted visitors – especially women – who decorate their hands with different mehndi designs.

Mehzabin, owner of Mehzabin Mehendi Makeup Studio, said, "Nowadays, creating henna designs has become an art. Many women entrepreneurs have taken up this art as a profession. I am getting a good response on the first day of the festival."

Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS

Zulekha Khan, owner of fashion house Eridanus, said earlier she participated in festivals in Dubai, Chennai, Singapore, and the United States and they were very helpful in expansion of her business.

"Fairs and festivals, as well as online shops and showrooms, play an important role in the spread of our products. The more such events are arranged, the more women entrepreneurs will be inspired to move forward," she said.

Kantoom Hasan, owner of Roots, was an entrepreneur from Dhaka who participated in the festival. She said, "At present, women entrepreneurs are becoming self-reliant on online business. The more such fairs are organised, the more women will have the opportunity to contribute to the economy."

Alina Mehnaz, founder of Alins Vogue, told the Business Standard, "The Spring Festival is aimed at promoting the products of online-based women entrepreneurs as well as creating new buyers and platforms. The presence of buyers on the first day is satisfactory. Hopefully, this festival will play a positive role in expanding the business of new entrepreneurs."