Aarong
BRAC · Bangladesh
Aarong is a Bangladeshi lifestyle retailer and social enterprise founded by BRAC in 1978. It sells handcrafted clothing, textiles, jewellery, leatherwork and home goods made by a large network of rural artisans.
| Founded | 1978, Dhaka |
|---|---|
| Parent | BRAC |
| Artisans | More than 87,000 |
| Channels | Own stores and online |
| Website | aarong.com |
What is Aarong?
Aarong is a fashion and lifestyle brand from Bangladesh and a social enterprise of the development organisation BRAC. It opened its first outlet in Shukrabad, Dhaka, in 1978, with the aim of connecting rural artisans to urban customers.
Products and positioning
The brand sells handcrafted textiles and clothing alongside jewellery, leatherwork, pottery, baskets and woodcraft. Its ranges draw on traditional Bangladeshi crafts, and it is one of the country's best-known retail names.
Supply chain
Aarong works with more than 87,000 artisans, around 85 per cent of them women. Over 30,000 are employed through the Ayesha Abed Foundation, which is central to its production, while the rest are served through independent producers.
Distribution
The brand operates its own stores across Bangladesh and has steadily expanded beyond Dhaka, with outlets in cities such as Barishal, Tangail, Cox's Bazar and Dinajpur. It also sells online and ships internationally.
Why it matters
Aarong shows how a retail brand can be built on a craft-based, artisan supply chain at scale, combining commercial fashion retail with a social mission in one of the world's major garment producing countries.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Aarong?
Aarong is a social enterprise of BRAC, the Bangladeshi development organisation, which founded it in 1978.
What does Aarong sell?
Aarong sells handcrafted clothing and textiles, jewellery, leatherwork, pottery, baskets, woodcraft and other home goods.