Kulsum Shadab Wahab's Brand Empowers Acid-Attack Survivors To Reclaim Hope

Kulsum Shadab Wahab’s work sits at the intersection of fashion, purpose, and social change. The Bengaluru-based entrepreneur and philanthropist is the founder of Ara Lumiere and Ara Prêt, which aims to open opportunities for economic independence and self-reliance for women who have survived acid attacks. She has worked in the impact sector for over a decade, supporting people with disabilities and survivors of violence.

Kulsum is also the first Indian to be appointed as a Women's Empowerment Ambassador for Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (Italian National Chamber of Fashion), to promote gender equality in fashion.

In an interview with SheThePeople, Kulsum reflects on her journey in fashion and business and the responsibility she carries as a global advocate for women’s empowerment from India.

She also speaks about using fashion and art as tools for social change, her work with acid attack survivors, and her vision of making empowerment accessible through purpose-driven design.

Kulsum Shadab Wahab in conversation with SheThePeople

STP: How did your journey in fashion first begin, and what influenced your early design sensibilities?

Kulsum: My entry into fashion was never planned. It was a calling shaped by purpose. I have always been drawn to storytelling and identity; to the idea that what we wear can reflect how we feel and who we are becoming.

Early on, I observed the resilience of women around me and the silent power they carried. That shaped my fashion sensibilities. Fashion, to me, is not just visual. It is emotional. It carries memory, dignity, and the right to be seen.

STP: How were Ara Lumiere and Ara Prêt born?

Kulsum: Ara Prêt evolved from our work with Ara Lumiere, which celebrates the artistry and resilience of survivors through couture. But empowerment should never be exclusive.

Ara Prêt brings that same purpose into everyday wardrobes, making empowerment wearable and accessible. It is fashion that invites every woman to stand with another woman through what she chooses to wear.

STP: Through your work, you support women who survived acid attacks. Can you share an insight that has shaped your approach to empowerment?

Kulsum: One profound truth guides me: survivors do not want sympathy; they want opportunity. When a woman is given a skill, a safe space, and a belief in her worth, she reclaims her identity.

Empowerment is not about repair. It is about rebirth. Witnessing women transform from trauma to entrepreneurship has shaped the foundation of both Ara Lumiere and Ara Prêt.

STP: What does being named Women Empowerment Ambassador by CNMI mean to you personally, and what responsibilities come with this role?

Kulsum: It is both an honour and a responsibility. Personally, it validates the mission I have dedicated my life to ensuring women who have survived violence are recognised for their strength and talent.

In this role, I want to amplify advocacy within the global fashion industry, build stronger partnerships, and ensure that visibility leads to real, sustainable change for survivors.

STP: How do you see fashion and art shaping conversations around social change and women’s empowerment?

Kulsum: Fashion and art have the power to reach hearts before policies. They transform a cause into a shared emotional experience …one that challenges stigma and opens dialogue.

When women’s stories are sewn into garments or expressed through art, society is asked to confront them with empathy. That emotional connection can reshape cultural narratives and inspire collective action.

STP: How do you handle the emotional weight of working with survivors of violence and stay motivated?

Kulsum: The work can be heavy and deeply emotional, but the women are my greatest source of strength. Their courage is what fuels my persistence. 

I focus on every milestone, a successful surgery, a woman starting her own business, a smile that looks forward instead of back. Hope is not passive; it is a discipline, and it keeps me committed.

STP: What does success mean to you today, personally and for the community you serve?

Kulsum: Success is seeing a survivor stand confidently in her identity, free from the labels society once imposed on her. It is when she controls her own choices economically, emotionally, and socially.

Personally, success means honouring my purpose while bringing more women with me into spaces once closed to them.

Ara Lumiere and Ara Prêt exist because every woman deserves the right to rewrite her story not as a survivor of violence, but as a creator of her own future. My mission is simple: to turn courage into opportunity, and purpose into empowerment, one woman at a time.