All outfits at Bibiana Fashion are made with Bibiana’s very own weavers. The fashion house specializes on 100% cotton, mixed cotton, dupian, silk, Andy cotton and khadi. The nicely aligned display of clothing includes all kinds of vibrant and soothing colors. There is a wide variety in white color collection. It is making attractive salwar kamizs, saries and a lot more. We got to chance to talk to Lipi Khandher, Managing Director and find out how Bibiana Fashion got so popular.
What made you want to have a clothing store, what was your inspiration?
Ms Lipi Khandher: I was into painting from a very early age and also I had a thing for making dress for myself, my family and my friends. Everybody always appreciated my creativity in dress making. When I was in my second year at Art College, I decided to invest my time in making outfits. I worked in Aarong for nine years as a designer and then I started Bibiana at November 2001. In 1997, I was sent to Ahmadabad to do a course on apparel textile designing that helped me a lot in my career as a designer.
What motivated you to select this name for your outlet?
Ms Lipi Khandher: As I was always involved in making traditional Bangladeshi wear like hand embroidery. Before opening my outlet I searched Bangla dictionary for a suitable name. Then Bibiana really struck in my head. Bibiana refers to very stylish Bengali women.
What kind of barriers did you face while starting this shop in Dhaka?
Ms Lipi Khandher: The most challenging thing while starting a new venture was getting necessary funds for investment. I was a job holder, so was my husband. So, we had a very limited capital, we rented the place and decorated it ourselves. Then, the second challenge was to stock the 2200sqf showroom with products.
What according to you attract people to your outlet, what is unique about it?
Ms Lipi Khandher: Bibiana’s uniqueness is hand embroidery products, the motifs are all related to our traditional culture. We also work with fusion but never leave my traditional creativity which is Bibiana’s signature design.
What are the initiatives that you are taking to ensure customer’s satisfaction level?
Ms Lipi Khandher: To ensure customer satisfaction, we have a form where we can understand which products are satisfying the customer and which are not, the outlet managers provide us weekly reports on the customer behavior. Additionally, we get a lot of response from our Facebook page.
Currently, how many employees are operating in your shop and to what extent are they serving your outlet? In your opinion, what makes a good employee?
Ms Lipi Khandher: Currently, there are about 200 in house staff and about 10000 field staff. A good employee must have commitment.
Are you planning to expand to another outlet? If yes, will you open the outlet inside or outside Dhaka city?
Ms Lipi Khandher: Yes, we are planning to open an outlet at Sylhet. Currently we have 8 outlets at Dhaka and 1 at Chittagong.
Being a successful business person, how do you balance the family and business commitment?
Ms Lipi Khandher: It is hard; however, the best thing I did was always lived close to my workplace. So that whenever it was necessary, I can give time to both.
According to our country’s economic condition, what are the key challenges of running this clothing outlet?
Ms Lipi Khandher: The current economic conditions marginally affect our business. We are paying our employees, artisans and others with our personal capital. Some of the artisans are leaving the profession, so our creative artisans will reduce in number. That may be a challenge in the future
How has it been going so far? What are the initiatives that Bibiyana Fashion is planning to take in future?
Ms Lipi Khandher: It has been great so far. The future plan is to expand our outlet in divisional level, encourage more artisans to join the work, to open Bibiyana Studio, where new designer can come to learn and show their creativity. Currently, we are doing it in a smaller scale like three or four students do their internship at Bibiyana for every 3 months.
What advice would you give someone starting a similar clothing outlet?
Ms Lipi Khandher: An enthusiastic entrepreneur must have commitment, creative, and patience and be motivated and hardworking.
BIBIBANA FASHION
Managing Director : Ms. Lipi Khandher
Year of Establishment : 2001
Main Product : Traditional Salwar kameez, Sharee etc.
Number of Outlet : 9
Number of Employees: 200
List of Bibiana Outlets:
1. DHANMONDI
road no.5 house no.6
Dhanmondi. ground floor
(near central hospital)
PHONE : 8616251
Shop Manager : 01684854410
2. AZIZ SUPER MARKET
31 no shahbagh. Dhaka
PH.9614269
Shop Manager : 01783962018
3. BANANI
HOUSE .36 ROAD.11
BLOCK. F BANANI DHAKA.
2ND FLOOR
PHONE : 9871606
Shop Manager : 01621462090
4. BASHUNDHARA CITY SHOPPING MALL. DESHIDOSH
LEVEL.7 BLOCK. A
PHONE : 8130549
Shop Manager : 01684854410
5. SHUKRABAD SHOP
HOUSE.1/A
ROAD .13 ( NEW)
SHOBAHANBAG. DHANMONDI
DHAKA.( BESIDE SOBAHANBAG MOSQUE)1ST FLOOR. PH.
Shop Manager : 01911850940
6. GULSHAN SHOP
DESHIDOSH
205/1 A HASHEM TOWER
TEZGAON LINK ROAD.DHAKA ,1ST FLOOR
(OPPOSITE AARONG)
Shop Manager : 01621440884
7. CHITTAGONG SHOP
1/A BAYOZID BOSTAMI ROAD
PACHLAISH.CHITTAGONG
4TH FLOOR.
PHONE : 0312556887
Shop Manager : 01866830278
9. JAMUNA FUTURE PARK SHOP
GROUND FLOOR,GD-019,020,021,KA-244,KURIL,PROGOTI SHARANI,DHAKA-1229
PHONE : 9823408
Shop Manager : 01743095681
This story was first published in IDLC monthly magazine.