Chapter 9. Victory day for Bangladesh

Returning to my world project looking at textiles and knitting traditions around this funny old world of ours seemed a good idea as we head back into lockdown. We dream of far away places, and often romanticize about spending holidays abroad, cocktail in hand, learning about traditional arts and crafts, visiting historic buildings and marveling at spectacular natural landscapes.

Today is Victory Day in The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, which is celebrated across the country with military and cultural festivals. The day is deeply revered in the country as people remember the 3,000,000 lost lives in the bloody 9 month Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971. Bangladesh was briefly known as East Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947 until in 1970 the Bengali Awami league won the elections in East Pakistan, and the separation from Pakistan begun. They were declared a sovereign state on this day, 1971.

It is hard to believe that I am as old (cough …maybe older) as this modern sovereign country. I have neither travelled to Bangladesh, nor have I been to India or Sri Lanka or Pakistan. This is remiss; I am literally sitting here with my passport ready to go. Sadly, I will have to just make this a brief desktop study, wrapped in my most colourful Madrigal garments (I have chucked a whole load of them together below), and hope these ramblings don’t sound too much like a high school geography project.

The Bangladeshi flag is a deep red disc on a dark green background. This represents a couple of things (as flags usually do…). The dark green is inspired by the Islamic faith, yet, as the country is officially secular it officially represents the fertile green land and the eternal youth of the Bengali people. The red disc represents the rising sun over the land and the blood spilled by the Bengalis to achieve their independence.

Madrigal colours Ruby Darling (red) and Shamrock (Green) are my closest colours of the Bangladesh flag. I love these hues, they also remind me of a Poinsettia and my Zygocactus.

Geographically, Bangladesh occupies much of the Ganges river delta which is the largest river delta on the planet, and has is a very important shared spiritual history with India. It is the most sacred of the Hindu rivers, and is known as Mother Ganges. It is home to millions of people and is one of the most fertile places on earth. I was going to add a map here, but everyone has Google earth or apple maps, so please, now is the time to look it up if you have no clue where it is.

It’s border with India in the North was also, up until a few years ago, filled with enclaves on either side. For a little fun history of the CRAZY Indian/Bangladeshi border visit the Map guys here.

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The GDP of Bangladesh is low as population is over 160 million and density is very high. The country is also subject to annual natural disasters, cyclones floods and bores. Poverty is widespread, but this is changing slowly as the economy is rapidly expanding The textile industry is one of the major employers of the population and since the 2013 Mirpur Textile factory fire, conditions for workers have been improving in the garment factories, and this has been aided by international assistance.

Bengali Muslin was once world famous as the pinnacle of gorgeously fine fabric and established Bangladesh as a world leader in this field. Sadly this isn’t produced as mush any more, as it cannot compete with cheaper fabrics produced locally and in China. Now, 77% of Bangladesh’s exports come from the ready to wear garment industry, though knitwear is now leading innovation in the country, as the textile industry is engaging with rural knitters, empowering women and advancing women’s health and independence.

I love reading stories like this. It’s as important when learning about a new place, to look at it in all of it’s dimensions. We love to learn about the food, the history and the colours that make up a culture, but I think it’s also important to appreciate their future. Nothing in the world is perfect right now, but I believe in a world that promotes industries that empower and protect women and girls, because I firmly believe we need more of a female influence in the world, particularly in leading it.

There really isn’t any limitation to the colour palette in fabrics found in the east. The brighter the better and I just love it. Looking at these beautifully vivid hues makes me think that my colour range isn’t actually vibrant enough.

Bangladeshi Silk is probably the best in the world. It’s made from the larvae of the silk worm, and spun, woven and dyed in bright vibrant hues. I remember keeping silk worms in a shoebox in my cupboard when I was little and one day they escaped and my whole cupboard was full of them. My mother wasn’t happy. I don’t really recommend amateur sericulture (the farming of silkworms – you’re welcome), but if you must, make sure you have a large mulberry tree near by and a very secure box.

Bright and vibrant colours and an ethical and sustainable future are at the heart of Madrigal Yarns. I have compiled a bunch of colours here that really bounce off each other in a gloriously fun and frivolous way. Colour is to be enjoyed, it is a marvelous privilege to work so closely with it and create in it every day.Think of how happy it makes you each time you crack open a new skein of your favourite yarn and imagine the gorgeous thing you’re about to make, the colours will be a huge part of it.