Rahemur Rahman

Rahemur Rahman (born 1990) is a British-Bengali artist and fashion designer known for his significant contributions to the British-Bengali diaspora and innovative use of traditional Bengali block printing techniques through his eponymous menswear label. Rahman is known for his focus on sustainable and ethically produced garments and is the first Bangladeshi fashion designer in history to showcase his or her work at London Fashion Week.

Early life Rahman was born and raised in Tower Hamlets, London. Rahman's father worked as a tailor in the rag trade, the immigrant-run clothing manufacturing business that provides cheap labour for the fashion industry. In 2019, he presented his first London Fashion Week collection entitled “For the people who dream in colour”; it aimed to reinterpret and re-tell stories of South Asian identity. The clothing, made from cotton, wool, and silk, was tailored with attention to detail, featuring shirts and jackets with a graceful taper at the armpit. Block prints were created in collaboration with artisans at Aranya, a fairtrade enterprise in Dhaka, Bangladesh using natural dyes.

In 2020, he showcased his second collection, “Children of the rag trade”, dedicating the collection to his father, who worked as a tailor in the rag trade.

In addition to his work in fashion, Rahman is also an accomplished artist, working in a variety of media including print, installation and sculpture. His art often explores themes of identity and cultural exchange, and has been exhibited in galleries around the world such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and Museum of the Home. The project was first commissioned by Tower Hamlets Council to create a collaborative and singular installation marking the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh. In an article written about the project by Tower Hamlets Council, Rahman said “The project also recognises the importance of events which took place in 1971 but takes a step back to re-examine the era and bring it closer to home through the multi-layered connections and cultural connotations of the safe and familiar space of ‘home’.”

Advocacy As a member of the Bengali diaspora, Rahman is deeply committed to preserving and promoting his cultural heritage, and reimagining how queer creatives in the South Asian community are perceived. He is also an active member of the London art and fashion scenes, and is known for his collaborative spirit and dedication to mentoring emerging Muslim talents.

Rahman has spoken out about the lack of South Asian representation within the fashion supply chain

Recognition Finalist for the British Fashion Council's Changemakers “People” prize in 2021. Winner of Outstanding Achievements Award at British Bangladeshi Fashion Council in 2019