Born and brought up in suburban Pennsylvania, I found it difficult to stay connected to my roots. I was always the child who spoke fluent Bangla at home and helped my parents make Desi dishes. Visiting Dhaka every few years was not enough, as I craved to experience various aspects of my South Asian culture in the States. Trips to Jackson Heights will always be my favorite, solely because of that reason. Desperate to stay rooted, I joined Brown Girl Magazine. It was a way for me to explore the world around me with a Desi lens. I have the opportunity to witness how cultural identification helps many creatives break barriers. This is why I created 'Mishteez,' a clothing brand inspired by deshi desserts. The idea for Mishteez came to me during the very beginning of the pandemic. I gravitated back to what I enjoy the most- everything related to South Asia.