TAAGA, a fashion and lifestyle brand by BRAC-Aarong, hosted its TAAGA Outstanding Young Professionals Award 2024-25 ceremony at the BRAC Centre Auditorium in Dhaka.
The event recognised and celebrated the achievements of young Bangladeshi women who are setting remarkable benchmarks in their professional fields.
Saima Teresa, Head of Product Design and Development, Standard MH Group, has won this prestigious award. Due to an official business trip, she was unable to attend the award ceremony. However, she spoke with Textile Focus about her achievement and shared her future plans.
Professional Journey of Teresa:
I began my design career at Aarong in 2010, where I was introduced to BRAC’s vast network and its rural artisan community. At the time, I was still pursuing my studies, but I was inspired by Tamara Abed—an influential leader—who encouraged me to manage both work and academics, sharing her own experience of doing the same abroad.
Motivated to take on new challenges, I later transitioned into the RMG sector as a Product Developer at Norwest Industries. In 2013, I was fortunate to join Fast Retailing’s Grameen Uniqlo as a Senior Designer, where I worked on their social business initiative in Bangladesh. One of the highlights of my career was the opportunity to meet Mr. Tadashi Yanai, President of Uniqlo, during the launch of the Global Traditional Wear project in 2014. My time in Tokyo provided invaluable experience and deepened my understanding of working with factories.
In 2015, I accepted the role of Head of Design at Habib Group in Chittagong. It was one of the toughest decisions of my life—relocating with my five-month-old child and leaving family behind. However, with the strong support of my family, especially my father, I made it happen.
In 2019, I returned to Dhaka and joined Biopi Group as Design Manager, where I established their in-house design studio and worked with UK and European clients for five years. Wanting to expand into the US market, I then joined Standard MH Group as Head of Product Design and Development, a position I continue to hold today.
Taaga Award for outstanding contribution:
The Taaga Outstanding Young Professionals Award is a flagship initiative by Taaga that aims to spotlight and celebrate exceptional young women leaders under the age of 35.
Beyond recognition, the award seeks to empower these changemakers by fostering a growing community rooted in ethical leadership, forward-thinking innovation, and a deep sense of social responsibility, inspiring a new generation of women to lead with purpose and impact across industries.
“Tonight, we are celebrating women who don’t wait for opportunities—they create them,” Abed stated.
“These young professionals embody effectiveness, innovation, integrity, and inclusiveness, and they represent not just the leaders of tomorrow but the leaders of today.”
The award ceremony highlighted the exceptional journeys of nine finalists, selected through a rigorous and competitive process from 309 nominations across 109 organizations nationwide.
A jury panel comprising senior professionals from bKash, The Daily Star, Unilever Bangladesh Ltd., Bata Bangladesh, HSBC Bangladesh, Lanka Bangla Finance PLC, Brac Enterprises, and Pathao oversaw the comprehensive evaluation process.
Changing concept of having foreign exposure in design and product design and development. Rather than growing local talent with trend analysis and inspiration taken from proper R&D is till date contribution and hope to build a mindset among RMG owners to expose local talent to grow.
Future plan for more contribution in the RMG sector :
As a designer, one of my long-term goals is to create my own brand. However, receiving this award has inspired me to take a step further—to develop an online platform where women, especially those working in the RMG sector, can openly share the challenges they face in the workplace. In many cases, women in managerial positions still have to navigate and compete within a male-dominated environment. I want to create a space where they can express their struggles, share their experiences, and find encouragement to move forward. My hope is to inspire more women to rise above limitations, keep dreaming, and reach the highest levels of professional success.
