Mashiat Faroza’s traditional Bangladeshi wedding was spread out over a year and 13 events. But the most important one of them all was the Rukhsati (or Bidaai) when the bride finally leaves her parental home and sets out for her marital one.
The 25-year-old Toronto-based fashion designer had zoomed in on Sue Mue in New Delhi to create her customized bridal trousseau for her, including a very special Holud Sondha lehenga. “I bought a lot of stuff from Sue Mue; their embroidery, customer service and customization is the best I have come across,” says Mashiat.
But her personal favourite ensemble was her Rukhsati lehenga. “My dad wanted me to wear a traditional, classic red lehenga, and I wanted something with zardozi embroidery all over. Sue Mue gave us both what we wanted,” she recalls.
Made using almost eight meters of fabric, the ensemble consisted of a deep maroon blouse in raw silk, a tulle dupatta in gold and maroon, a trail almost three feet long and a dramatic red lehenga with zardozi in gold and light gold.
With zari and dabka embroidery inspired by Mughal architecture and embellished with sequins, the 25-kg lehenga took 13 months to create. “My groom, Tadmir, came along with me to Sue Mue two months before the wedding. He loved the lehenga instantly. He said it made me look like a queen,” smiles Mashiat.
She recalls an incident while she was getting ready at the beauty salon. “The door to the bridal parlour was ajar for a few moments and these two ladies got a peek at my outfit. They were just stunned at how beautiful I looked, and requested me to let them take photos,” says Mashiat, who happily obliged. While the ladies clicked her pictures, her own mother walked in.
“My mother is very superstitious about complimenting my looks, but that day, even she couldn’t help herself. She told me I looked exactly the way she had envisioned her daughter to look like as a bride!” Mashiat beams.
Her celebrity moment didn’t end there: when Mashiat made the final walk to the Rukhsati venue, a lady began following her and taking photos all the way. “I truly did feel like a queen on my wedding. My mother says that, till today, she has never seen a prettier bride. Coming from my mom, it means the world to me.”