Pulling out all the stops

For the suave, stylish men in the city, there's one oasis of calm that they can look for, and that's the one at Samuel Hoque's style sanctum. 

From Dhaka to London and back, the celebrated menswear designer Samuel Hoque is restarting operations in his home town with a scintillating capsule collection for boys and men of all ages and sizes, keeping the prevailing hot weather and the upcoming festive season in mind. 

"Fashion has always been a repetition of ideas, but what makes it new is the way you put it together"
~ Carolina Herrera 

Panjabis have always been a summer staple in this country, but Hoque gives the tried-and-true favourites his own edgy, cosmopolitan twist. Be it a zippered front, a small-wings collar, a textured panel, or a high-low silhouette, just the right amount of pop to a classic, functional garment marries tradition with innovation. Worth mentioning is his invention for Eid, the "scarf kurta" a panjabi with a built-in uttorio, for the man who wants an opulent touch, without the fuss and the fumbling of keeping everything together. 

With a keen eye for detail, the shalwars accompanying the panjabis have all been inspired by contemporary athleisure trends, and designed more as joggers than the regular shalwar, for men who want a little more versatility from their trousers.

Not to be missed are his screen/laser printed kotis made out of t-shirt fabric for maximum comfort. The timeless cuts feature the results of his extensive research work on the graffiti art from the dark back alleys of infamous London streets like Brixton, Shoreditch and Soho, a trend that, in the light of Brexit, may just set the runway on fire next year.  

3 WAYS TO WEAR A SAMUEL HOQUE SIGNATURE PRINTED KOTI
- Pair it with a jeans and tee combo, or wear it with a crisp, white shirt

Go traditional with a slim cut bespoke kurta in a light colour and tapered bottoms

- With loafers for that Gatsby feel, or strappy sandals for that oh-so-casual afternoon chic

The man himself is also available for private consultations, and everything you see and like can be made to measure after a chat with the visionary himself.  

Samuel Hoque Style Sanctum is located at
32, Progoti Sharani, Baridhara Block J
Hours: 11am-10pm

By Fatima Hussain
Photo courtesy: Samuel Hoque