Bangladeshi men standing outside a textile shop in Spitalfields, London

Bangladeshi men standing outside a textile shop in Spitalfields, London, 1980. ⁣
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The presence of Bengali-owned textile and fabric shops in the United Kingdom dates back to the late 19th century. During the British Raj, Bengali tailors were famed throughout the Empire for their technique and their knowledge of different fabrics. Throughout the years, many would emigrate and head to Europe in search of better professional opportunities. Along with their compatriots who excelled as cooks (and who would later go on to set up Britain’s first curry houses), they laid the foundation for the early British-Bangladeshi community. ⁣