Milan, 27 November 2025 – On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) announces the appointment of Kulsum Shadab Wahab as Women Empowerment Ambassador. With this role, CNMI strengthens its commitment to combating gender-based violence and promoting initiatives dedicated to women’s empowerment, a core element of the Association’s vision.
An Indian philanthropist and founder of the brand Ara Lumiere, Kulsum Shadab Wahab has been active for years in supporting women who have survived gender-based violence through her role as Executive Director of the Hothur Foundation, which works to ensure freedom, dignity, and equal rights for women who are victims of acid attacks.
Among the Foundation’s main initiatives is ARA LUMIERE, a social enterprise and high-fashion brand based in India that currently employs more than one hundred women who have survived acid attacks, offering them training opportunities and economic independence. In 2022, ARA LUMIERE was awarded the Social Impact Award at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards, acknowledging the project’s social and cultural value.
“We are proud to welcome Kulsum Shadab Wahab as a Women Empowerment Ambassador. Her dedication to supporting women who have survived violence is a virtuous example of how fashion can generate real impact. Her vision and commitment strengthen the path of social responsibility that CNMI pursues with determination.” Carlo Capasa, Chairman Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana
“The spirit of women, their courage, their resilience and that quiet strength will always be my guiding force. In my role as Ambassador, I hold their stories close and move forward with determination and responsibility. Through fashion and social commitment, I strive to promote a world in which every woman can feel free, strong, and able to shape her own destiny, generating global change.”
Kulsum Shadab Wahab
Biography – Kulsum Shadab Wahab
Kulsum Shadab Wahab is an Indian philanthropist committed to inclusion and to supporting women who have survived gender-based violence. As Executive Director of the Hothur Foundation, she coordinates programmes dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of women who are victims of acid attacks, promoting their autonomy and rights.
She is the founder of ARA LUMIERE, a social-fashion initiative that employs women survivors, enhancing their artisanal skills and creativity through high-fashion projects with strong social impact. Her work is recognised internationally for its ability to combine fashion, responsibility, and empowerment, contributing to building pathways towards independence and renewal.
For more information:
CNMI
Beatrice Rossaro | +39 3440426098 | [email protected]
Antonio Colella | +39 342 3679170 | [email protected]
Kulsum Shadab Wahab
Negri Firman Pr & Communication | [email protected]
Federica Burzio | Communications Director | [email protected]
Agnese Battolla | Communications Specialist | [email protected]
