Zurhem Didn’t Come to Play. Dhaka’s Sharpest Label took over Cannes!

The red carpet at Cannes 2025 saw all the usual suspects: big gowns, legacy houses, brand placements so obvious you could clock them from the Croisette. But then came Zurhem. And suddenly, this South Asian label wasn’t just in attendance, but in command.

Image courtesy @zurhem

Bangladesh’s homegrown couture label, known for its razor-sharp tailoring and unapologetically slick aesthetic, Zurhem, delivered a masterclass in red carpet power-play. Fresh off its Paris Fashion Week debut, Zurhem’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection, Solaris, didn’t just make it to Cannes— it dominated it.

Zurhem was born in 2015, as founder and creative director, Mehruz Munir’s promising rebellion againstcookie-cutter menswear in Dhaka. A designer whose ambition matches his precision, the brand started as a small team in Dhaka with a big idea: to make unapologetically bold, globally relevant fashion rooted in South Asian craftsmanship, now dressing both women and men across borders, events and red carpets.

Image courtesy @mehruz

For Mehruz Munir, Cannes was a reckoning. “I still have moments where I stop and go, ‘Wait… this is really happening?’” he admits. The weight of representing Bangladesh on such a global stage wasn’t lost on him. “It’s incredibly emotional,” he reflects, thinking back to a time when fashion wasn’t even considered a legitimate career path.

“This moment isn’t just about a gown or a tux, it’s about showing the world what Bangladesh can do.” Professionally, it marks a milestone for his team; personally, it’s a full-circle moment of pride, purpose, and possibility.

Mehruz didn’t see it coming — not like this. “We weren’t entirely sure how many celebrities would actually end up wearing our pieces,” he says. The plan was simple: send a few select looks to a Cannes showroom and hope for the best. “I took it with a serious pinch of salt,” he confesses. “I’m naturally suspicious. I question everything. I thought maybe one or two people might wear something and even that would’ve been incredible.”

But what happened next surprised even him. “Almost a dozen public figures ended up wearing them! And not just wearing — loving, appreciating, even messaging us.” No PR push. No aggressive pitching. “The clothes just spoke for themselves,” he says. A reminder that sometimes, when the work is good, it doesn’t need a megaphone.

Image courtesy @zurhem

Image courtesy @zurhem

French model Sufian Saï showed up in a gold corduroy suit that hit like a solar flare. TikTok sensation Yeney wore a cropped blazer embroidered with pearls, less red carpet, more red flag, Zurhem had officially arrived. Miss France alum Ophély Mézino turned a menswear runway coat into an afterparty moment. And if that wasn’t enough, Paula Rita Saady and Sandra Zouma stepped out in looks that said couture, not costume.

Solaris Was Made for a Stage This Big

Unveiled in Paris back in March, Solaris is everything Zurhem does best: architectural cuts, celestial references, and fabrics that flirt with light. Think sunburst cutouts, pearled trench coats, metallic corduroys, and unapologetic Rajshahi silk, executed with a confidence that most European labels try to fake with exaggerated minimalism.

“All the looks we showcased at Cannes were made entirely in Bangladesh, in our own atelier, by the most incredible team of artisans,” says Mehruz. “Every sequin, every stitch, done by hand. That space, my atelier, is my favourite corner of the world. It’s quiet, focused and full of magic.”

What sets this collection apart is how grounded it remains in South Asian craftsmanship. Rajshahi silks, indigenous techniques and hours of embroidery form the backbone of the Solaris vision. “We designed it with our heritage at heart,” Mehruz adds, “but gave it a few global twists" — enough to make it walk the Cannes carpet without losing its soul.

Image courtesy @zurhem

But Zurhem’s boldest move?

Zurhem’s boldest flex was putting Al Amin

(the viral dual-voiced phenom and lead in Adnan Al Rajeev’s ‘Cannes Jury Mention’ short, Ali) in a custom look laced & inspired by the Water Lily — Shapla Phool, Bangladesh’s national flower.

Rooted in the wetlands of rural Bengal, the

Shapla represents resilience, purity and beauty rising from murky waters — quite literally.

No Tokenism. No Apologies.

This isn’t some fluffy “South Asia makes it to the West” moment. This is Dhaka’s most daring fashion house rewriting the rules. Zurhem didn’t beg for a seat at the table. It showed up, staged the dinner, and dressed the guests. No tired tropes. No heritage-for-clicks. Just clean, conscious design with global teeth.