tv-silken

Bibi Russell, Bangladesh’s first supermodel, received her fashion education in London 1972. Spotted at her showing, she emblazoned international catwalks, as muse to YSL & Armani. Witnessing a devastating flood, Bibi gave up her glamorous life to return home, resurrecting the country’s dying crafts & weaves. Today fifteen years later, Bibi, a UN Ambassador for Fashion Development & Artist for Peace, with a Fellowship in Fashion, has single handedly provided livelihood of over 80000 weavers & craftspeople from Spain to Senegal & Sri Lanka.

2007, Bibi questions why nations with a billion possibilities-India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh- fuelling global retail are unable to develop a single ‘local brand’. Challenging this servitude of outsource economies that is turning eastern talent into faceless fodder for export factories, Bibi questions why people who producethese garments will never-be allowed to wear what they produce. Seeking to understand why politicians and corporate talking about ‘cleaning up fashion’ don’t encourage policies to support local labels, Bibi charts a trajectory to nurture national labels.
Through Bibi’s very personal, emotional, humorous yet humbling journey, we witness how one woman can save the soul of nations sold to synthetics.Working alongside local design communities and craftspeople, educating, engaging and empowering, she travels across nations. Following her across the silken route, into Rajasthan watching her work tirelessly to revive Gandhi’s weaves, we realize why this nation, once rich in tradition is losing its cultural identities, Bibi tackles their apathy; researching economical, eco-friendly solutions that are hip and haute, re- shaping emerging cultural identities.

Going with her to Shekhawati, we witness her rescue of salt-mine workers from 50 Deg C temperatures, training them in local crafts. But when she returns to Bangladesh, to care for ailing mother, the bureaucrats stop paying local workers, trying to sabotage Bibi’s project. Realizing she has been used as media candy, Bibi seeks fair compensation for the women workers. A silent conspiracy unveils; she is stamped a ‘foreigner’ - a terrorist. This hurts her, but our defiant hero refuses to fall victim, continuing into Colombo, shepherding in a design community, braving even crossfire to showcase them.
In Cambodia she works alongside HIV + women, infused with their zeal for life. Bibi’s roller coaster ride is filled with trials and triumph; passion and pain, revealing a visionary leader with controversial views on child labor and women’s empowerment that reflect positively through her achievements. Without seeking compensation, giving up her personal life, sacrificing her own label, she wakes up every morning with a prayer to save one-more life Changing the harsh reality of workers putting in 12 hour for 1 US$, Bibi stirs a visual debate on the lives of 20Million workers affiliated with the eastern garment industry.
Following in her trajectory, this film is a cinematic expose, as our protagonist opens up dialogue on the pertinent issues of self determination and development of national brands in economies undergoing tumultuous effects of rapid urbanization.Shot over three years 2008/ 2010, across five countries, the upheaval in the world is reflected in the life of our key characters. Against this global canvas as our story unfolds, as outsource is sidelined in Obama-Economics, South Asia’s apparel industry falters, revealing how bad governance stunts real growth. Hope is now pegged on the dignity of design to bring in the key differentiator. Will Bibi’s green philosophy becomes a ray of light for a better tomorrow

Shot Across: Bangladesh/ USA/ India/ SriLanka/ Cambodia. Final Cut April 2010