Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj

Israt Jahan Sadia, a student of Randa Prasad Saha University in Narayanganj, has developed Bangladesh’s first eco-friendly alternative leather. She is a final-semester student in the university’s Fashion and Design Department. Through home-based experiments using a combination of beetroot, coffee, and charcoal with various chemical mixtures, she successfully created this vegan leather.

This leather is not only beneficial for the environment but also opens up new possibilities in the leather industry. Sadia’s research and innovation offer opportunities for sustainable change in the country's fashion and textile industry. Her developed leather can be considered a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to animal leather.

Under the supervision of Tanzil Hasnain Moin Ronit, the head of the Fashion Design Department, Israt developed the vegan leather using natural extracts from various vegetables and fruits mixed with chemicals, ensuring it is completely reusable. Through multiple trials with vegetable and fruit juices, she eventually achieved the desired results with beetroot, coffee, and charcoal.

On Monday (March 3), the undergraduate research paper defense seminar on Sadia’s success was held at Randa Prasad Saha University in Narayanganj. During the seminar, Israt Jahan Sadia said, `I have always wanted to work with eco-friendly fashion. This vegetable leather can provide a high-quality alternative without harming nature. After several trials with different vegetable and fruit juices, I finally achieved my desired outcome with beetroot, coffee, and charcoal. I plan to continue working on this leather in the future. I have already experimented with making fashion accessories and shoes from this leather. My goal is to produce it commercially and bring sustainable change to Bangladesh’s fashion industry.’

Tanzil Hasnain Moin Ronit, head of the university’s Fashion and Design Department, commented, *"Such remarkable discoveries have been made possible due to our students’ creativity and innovative thinking. I have provided my fullest support from my position. This initiative has the potential to expand further in the future, positively impacting the country’s economy."

Also present at the undergraduate research presentation was Souvik Das, designer and CEO of Rong Bangladesh. He highly praised this type of research and encouraged students to engage more in innovative studies. He also commended the Fashion and Design Department of R.P. Saha University, stating that if every department inspires students similarly, each student will be able to develop their latent talents and achieve excellent research outcomes.

Among the other attendees were Professor Dr. Nazmul Hasan, Director of the CRI at R.P. Saha University, and Dr. Md. Tariqul Islam, Controller of Examinations and Assistant Professor. They praised the quality of the research and wished the department continued success. Additionally, R.P. Saha University expressed its commitment to supporting such creative and environmentally friendly initiatives by students in the future.