Born and raised in suburban Pennsylvania, I often struggled to stay connected to my roots. At home, I proudly spoke fluent Bangla and helped my parents prepare classic Desi dishes — small but powerful acts that kept my culture close. Still, visits to Dhaka every few years weren’t enough. I longed to experience the richness of South Asian life here in the States. Trips to Jackson Heights became my happy place — a rare space where I felt seen, heard, and home.

In my search for connection, I joined Brown Girl Magazine, a space that allowed me to see the world through a Desi lens. There, I witnessed how cultural identity could empower creatives to break boundaries and reclaim their narratives. It was inspiring. That journey is what led me to create MishTeez — a clothing brand rooted in the joy of Desi desserts. The idea came to me at the start of the pandemic, a time when I found myself gravitating toward everything South Asian — the flavors, the colors, the nostalgia.

Mishteez is my way of weaving sweetness, culture, and identity into something wearable. Because staying rooted shouldn’t mean choosing between worlds — it should mean celebrating all of them.