At Portrait Milano, amid the bustle of Fashion Week, a different kind of gathering took place. Instead of a runway, guests arrived for an evening defined by purpose and artistry, where fashion became a stage for resilience. The event marked the unveiling of The Phoenix Circle, a new initiative envisioned by Kulsum Shadab Wahab to support women who have endured acid attacks and female genital mutilation. The atmosphere felt both intimate and powerful. A cocktail reception allowed guests to connect before Wahab introduced the mission of the evening: to create a global community that stands beside survivors, offering solidarity and a platform for their stories. The name itself carries meaning. Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes, these women are reclaiming their identities and building lives that are not defined by trauma but by creativity, strength, and new beginnings.
Central to the movement is Ara Lumiere, Wahab’s fashion label supported by the Hothur Foundation. The brand has already gained recognition for its unique model, directly involving survivors in the creation of couture pieces that have been celebrated on international stages. Each design reflects resilience as much as it does artistry, transforming personal pain into symbols of empowerment. Proceeds fund medical care, rehabilitation, and psychological support, proving that fashion can serve as both expression and lifeline.
With The Phoenix Circle, Wahab builds on this foundation, merging advocacy, philanthropy, and creativity into a global conversation. The initiative is not just about visibility but about rewriting narratives, ensuring survivors are seen not as victims but as leaders, artists, and changemakers.
A Conversation with Kulsum Shadab Wahab
What inspired you to begin the Hothur Foundation?
The Foundation grew out of a family tradition of service. For generations, my family has worked to provide essential support to underserved communities, from healthcare to maternal aid. But for me, it became deeply personal when I met women who had survived violence. I realized that beyond resources, what many lacked was dignity and the chance to be heard. That realization shaped my path and gave rise to my work in women’s empowerment.
Is there a recent project that feels especially meaningful to you?
I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done with children affected by acid violence, as well as women who have survived both acid attacks and female genital mutilation. These are some of the most difficult realities, yet helping them access medical care, psychological support, and hope for a new future is something I feel fiercely committed to. The Phoenix Circle feels like an extension of that mission — creating space in Milan for conversations that can no longer be ignored.
How did Ara Lumiere and now Ara Prêt evolve from this journey?
Ara Lumiere was born from the belief that survivors are not only recipients of aid but creators of art. The women I met had extraordinary resilience and untapped creative strength. Together, we began building couture pieces that soon traveled to international stages. Ara Prêt is the natural next step, bringing that same energy into ready-to-wear. It allows more people to connect with the story, to wear empowerment in their everyday lives.
What has it meant to see your designs featured at Milan Fashion Week?
It’s been humbling, and deeply emotional, to see the work celebrated in such an important context. For me, it is not only about the recognition but what it signals — that survivors’ voices and artistry can no longer be confined to the margins. Their creativity deserves a central place in global conversations.
Looking ahead, what is your biggest hope for the women you work with?
My hope is that they are no longer defined as “survivors.” I want them to be known as artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders with limitless opportunity. True success will be the day they are celebrated not for enduring violence but for their brilliance, their vision, and what they contribute to the world.
Fashion has the power to carry meaning, and The Phoenix Circle is proof of that. Kulsum Shadab Wahab has built a platform that celebrates strength and gives survivors the space to shine on their own terms. It feels like the beginning of something bigger, with the promise of even more voices, artistry, and impact still to come.
Learn more at hothurfoundation.com and aralumiere.com.
