Welcome,

Aarong – Bengali for ‘village fair’ – is Bangladesh’s most popular lifestyle retail chain

This ethical brand began in 1978 as a humble means to empower rural artisans to rise above poverty. Today, with 29 retail stores across Bangladesh and over 100 fashion and lifestyle product lines, Aarong supports over 75,000 artisans with fair terms of trade. Revolutionising the retail industry with high standards for quality and artistry, this iconic brand blends the traditional with the contemporary in ways that never cease to win consumer appeal both at home and abroad.

In 1976, when BRAC– the world’s largest development organisation – engaged a small number of rural women to produce crafts, their only buyers were a few scattered retailers in Dhaka. Weeks, even months would pass between supply and payment, until BRAC intervened and established Aarong to pay the rural women for their goods on time. Over the past four decades, Aarong has carved out a unique market segment for handicrafts, reviving Bangladesh’s rich heritage and impacting the lives of more than 325,000 people through 650 small entrepreneurs and the Ayesha Abed Foundation. The foundation acts as Aarong’s production hub, where artisans find employment and access to many well-being programmes such as health insurance, access to micro-credit and saving instruments, legal aid, day care for working mothers, awareness on rights and access to government benefits, and gratuity payments upon retirement.

From clay pots to diamond jewellery, and silk and cotton fabrics to brass and leather products, Aarong’s vast range of innovative products, backed by a robust supply chain and distribution network, makes Aarong truly a household brand in Bangladesh. Its growing presence outside of Bangladesh – through fair-trade networks and the online shop– continues to broaden the market for Bangladeshi crafts globally, creating more opportunities for artisans to protect their age-old art and livelihoods.

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, disease and social injustice. Our interventions aim to achieve large scale, positive changes through economic and social programmes that enable women and men to realise their potential.

Our Values

Integrity

Innovation

Inclusiveness

Effectiveness

our brands

our Journey so far

1978

Aarong opens it's first outlet in Shukrabad, Dhaka, Bangladesh to ensure market linkage for marginalised women.

1982

The Ayesha Abed Foundation was established to provide an appropriate working environment, financial and technical assistance and training to develop women’s skills in various crafts. Today, with over 20,000 artisans, it operates 14 craft production centres and over 700 hand embroidery sub-centres in rural and semi urban areas.

1989

Aarong opens the country's largest retail store of its time in Dhanmondi.

1995

Aarong organises one of Bangladesh’s first major fashion shows at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, positioning itself as a mainstream fashion brand.

2008

Aarong launched a 2-part exhibition 'Story of Stitches' (2008) on nakshi kantha and 'Story of Pride' (2010) on jamdani at Shilpakhala Academy.

2011

Aarong Flagship outlet established in Uttara, Dhaka, the country's largest retail store of its time

2014

E-commerce platform launched with ambitions to connect global consumers to Bangladeshi crafts.

2018

The Aarong 40 Years Festival was held at Army Stadium, Dhaka. The 3-day festival marked the brand's 40th anniversary and featured live craft exhibitions and workshops, fashion shows, a producer award ceremony and musical performances.

our Awards

Our people

OUR Artisans