The Kamla cushion,stacked alongside an array of equally eye-catching cushions in the multi-designer fashion store Kitsch in Delhi,has a story to tell. A story of empowerment,financial freedom and heritage. It has also come a long way from home. Christened after its creator Kamla,a resident of village Mulana,situated 50 kilometres outside Jaisalmer (Rajasthan),the intricately embroidered cushion in powder blue is part of a special collection put together by Indo-Kuwaiti fashion designer Tahir Sultan and the NGO,I Love Jaisalmer. Conceptualised and created by Sultan and his hotelier friend Manvendra Singh Shekhawat earlier this year,I Love Jaisalmer provides sustainable employment for rural women,apart from steering voluntary social activities in the desert city. It was in December last year,on a visit to Suryagarh Fort,that Manvendra told me about his passion for the city and how much he would like to give back to the community. As a designer,I also felt it was my duty to lend my design knowledge and skills to help improve the lives of others, recalls the designer. A graduate from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design,London,Sultan who works out of India and Kuwait interned with designers Alexander McQueen and John Galliano before making his international debut at the London Fashion Week in 2012 as the first Kuwaiti designer. Today,he retails from his stores in the Middle-East and is stocked globally at boutiques like Harvey Nichols and Wolf & Badger. Working with the women of Mulana,Sultan set up an infrastructure for design,production and quality control in order to produce the home ware. I drew upon my own mixed heritage,the crafts of Rajasthan as well as designs from Central Asia for the collection. There are predominantly hand embroideries, he says,adding that he feels that these women are very hard-working and have become enthusiastic about the cushions they produce. They get paid by the piece and it makes me proud that they are able to execute such innovative designs and work efficiently with love and care, says Sultan,who is looking to expand the product line. The cushions,currently available at Kitsch stores,are priced at Rs 4,000 a piece. I also want to showcase this excellence in craft internationally. I am passionate about Jaisalmer and whether it is the history,beauty or people,a part of my heart has forever been lost to the desert, Tahir admits. While his work for I love Jaisalmer is voluntary,the designer is now keen to make his presence felt in India. I am looking to open my first store in December, says the designer,whose own collections are practical and functional with a whimsical twist. Flash of the Fortnight Kangna Ranaut Stepping out for the promotions of her film Rajjo,actor Kangna Ranaut arrested attention in a sequinned deep blue number with sheer detailing by designer duo Rohit Gandhi+Rahul Khanna. Given the rich hue,Ranaut was careful to opt for nude pumps. We liked the way she styled her hair in retro waves and contrasted the look well with scarlet lips
