Born in Bangladesh, shaped by legal intellect and distinguished by a refined fashion sensibility, Emam Mahmud Rifat emerges as a role model for the new generation of fashion—one that fuses intellectual strength, global vision, and a spirit of contribution. As a Global Ambassador for Global Student Fashion Week 2025, he represents not only beauty, but also the power of culture and purposeful living.
GSFW 2025: Convergence of intellect, beauty, and global mindsets
Global Student Fashion Week (GSFW) is one of the largest student fashion events in the world—a convergence of performance art and educational thought, of cultures and the shared aspiration to shape the future. Taking place in Hanoi in December 2025, GSFW will gather over 30 international fashion academies, 150 emerging designers, and nearly 1,000 Global Ambassadors, forming a powerful network of influential voices within the creative industry.
More than just a stage for brilliance, GSFW is a strategic platform where fashion is redefined as part of a broader ecosystem of knowledge and social responsibility. Within this visionary framework, Global Ambassadors like Emam Mahmud Rifat play a pivotal role in spreading values, fostering cross-cultural dialogue, and inspiring action that comes from the heart—touching communities worldwide.
Emam Mahmud Rifat: Portrait of an ambassador with the vision of the times
Born in 2002 in Bangladesh—a country rich in cultural heritage and identity—Emam chose a path less traveled by many international models. He pursued both the art of performance and an academic journey, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Law and currently pursuing his Master’s. His legal mindset has given him a solid foundation to enter the fashion industry with depth, responsibility, and insight.
Emam began his modeling career in 2019, but it was in 2022 that he experienced a breakthrough by winning Second Runner-Up at the Mr & Miss Photogenic competition, an event that celebrates the union of beauty and intellect. Shortly after, he proved his caliber on the international stage at Mr. Universe 2024, once again securing the Second Runner-Up title among hundreds of contestants from around the world. These achievements are not merely accolades under the spotlight—they are a testament to a new generation of models: intelligent, idealistic, and culturally grounded.
Value of life in contemporary fashion thinking
Unlike the conventional image of a model, Emam Mahmud Rifat does not simply admire beauty—he places beauty in the service of society and meaningful creation. To him, fashion is not merely about dazzling collections on the runway; it is a form of cultural communication that can shape perceptions, inspire action, and heal the silent spaces within the human spirit. “I want fashion to transcend the runway and step into real life—where it can connect communities, foster dialogue, and become a voice of humanity in a fragmented world,” he shares.
In Emam’s worldview, beauty holds true value only when tied to responsibility. He believes that fashion can fully align with global efforts—from raising awareness on climate change and environmental protection to supporting vulnerable and overlooked communities. As part of his personal mission, Emam is preparing to collaborate with nonprofit organizations and young designers in Bangladesh to launch a campaign series titled Fashion for the Earth, where collections will be crafted from recycled materials and showcased in open, nature-inspired, and community-centered spaces.
But his ambitions don’t stop there. Emam also aims to use his personal platform to launch local media forums where young people can access knowledge about sustainable fashion, gender equality in the creative industry, and the right to self-expression. For him, a model is not just someone to be looked at—but someone who creates spaces for others to be heard. And in that silence, fashion becomes a voice.
GSFW Global Ambassador in the role of bridging global culture
As the Global Ambassador of GSFW 2025, Emam views this role not as a destination, but as the starting point of a great responsibility. He has already begun planning to spread GSFW’s values across national media channels and actively integrate GSFW’s message into the international collaboration projects he participates in. From university speeches to televised interviews, Emam consistently weaves GSFW into his personal mission as an inseparable element.
“Fashion is the silent language of culture. If we understand it rightly and act accordingly, we can make fashion a tool to connect humanity,” Emam shares. He calls on fashion students worldwide to step beyond the conventional commercialization path and together build a more conscientious fashion industry—one where every design and every runway step carries a message: of peace, climate action, and human dignity.
Hailey | Cameron Truong
