15 July,2026 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBR
(L-R) Shabana Azmi with Manish Malhotra
Imagine the small town of Mijwan in Uttar Pradesh making its presence felt on the runways of Paris. That's the power of fashion - something that couturier Manish Malhotra showed as he made his debut at Paris Haute Couture Week earlier this month. As he presented his Fall/Winter 2026-27 couture collection titled Maa, he showcased the chikankari craftsmanship of Mijwan's women artisans. Shabana Azmi, actor and Chairperson of Mijwan Welfare Society, is thrilled to see the heights that the foundation - founded by her father Kaifi Azmi - has scaled.
Talking to mid-day, she said, "That Manish Malhotra chose to showcase Mijwan's artisans' chikankari work during his Paris Haute Couture Week debut is both an honour and an endorsement of their extraordinary craftsmanship. We thank him for taking the artistry of Mijwan from a small village in Uttar Pradesh to one of the most prestigious fashion platforms."
Azmi was surprised to see Malhotra spotlighting Mijwan's craft in his line that merged European silhouettes with India's rich textile heritage. Now, the actor can't wait to celebrate the feat with the designer. "Manish told me nothing; he just sent me a picture from Paris! I loved his collection. A village in which my father was born, which didn't even figure on India's map, is now known internationally," marvelled the actor.
1993
Year when poet Kaifi Azmi founded the Mijwan Welfare Society, which is now headed by Shabana Azmi
