Our column, The Female Gaze, is a place to elevate female empowerment and listen to those changing the world. Here, we speak to Kulsum Shadab Wahab about her work with acid survivors through the Hothur Foundation and Ara Lumiere.
Kulsum Shadab Wahab has dedicated her life to empowering acid attack survivors. Through the Hothur Foundation, she focuses on comprehensive rehabilitation, ensuring survivors receive access to reconstructive surgeries, long-term medical care, trauma therapy and psychological support. But her approach extends far beyond physical healing.
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Kulsum’s purpose-driven fashion brand, Ara Lumiere, is an extension of the foundation, creating sustainable livelihoods through handcrafted garments and accessories. After surgery and recovery comes the promise of a creative and fulfilling career in an industry that may have appeared off limits. Throughout our video call, Kulsum reiterates that dignity, identity and resilience are at the crux of her mission at Ara Lumiere, revealing a powerful example of how fashion can make a real impact.
Here, Kulsum discusses the powerful intersection of fashion and social impact, maintaining sustainable livelihoods beyond rehabilitation and her goal to form a global movement.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do
When I first started out, I was in a space where I really wanted to create beautiful things. I was curious about my surroundings and eager to do something different. I wasn’t entirely sure what that would look like, but I knew it would be in the creative field.
When my family suggested that I join the foundation, I was quite hesitant. It wasn’t something I felt immediately passionate about. I’m someone who can be very obsessive, and when I commit to something I give it all my time and energy.
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At the time, I saw myself in design. I never specifically thought about clothing or building a brand; I just knew it would be something creative. But while working with children and small therapy groups – supporting their mental health and surgeries – I met a young acid attack survivor in a hospital. That day, my life took a completely different turn.
I realised then that giving survivors a voice was what I wanted to do. I wanted to use whatever platform I had to convey the messages they wanted to share with the world – to help give them a voice and an identity. There are very few people truly caring for these marginalised communities, whereas that’s my entire focus.
Can you tell us a bit about your fashion brand, Ara Lumiere, and your work with the Hothur Foundation? How do the two come together to empower acid attack survivors?
For me, the Hothur Foundation is about healing, and Ara Lumiere is about giving survivors dignity. When we support survivors, each of them has to go through multiple surgeries – which just isn’t enough. What I realised is that these women need visibility and dignity. They need something to feel proud of – their craft, their creativity, their ability to make a difference. Through Ara Lumiere, they are able to create pieces that can be worn by other women.
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Can you tell us about some of the foundation’s initiatives, such as training opportunities and economic independence?
Everything we do is implemented on a large scale. With the foundation, there is healing, surgeries and counselling. Counselling, in particular, is one of the main pillars, because survivors need that emotional support before they can even think about returning to work.
When someone has been wounded and gone through multiple surgeries – and especially if their family refuses to take them back and society does not accept them – they are doubly wounded.
Counselling forms the foundation of their recovery. Once they’ve worked through that stage, they can begin to rebuild their confidence, return to work, and start creating again.
In what way has your craft and love of fashion helped you expand your humanitarian and educational efforts?
Preview of Ara Lumiere AW26
For me, fashion has been a very important language. Through it, we’ve been able to collaborate with renowned artists and enter spaces that might otherwise have been out of reach. Through fashion, these women have received significant awards and recognition.
When they go up on that stage, they are sending a message to survivors that there’s hope and light at the end of the tunnel. I think fashion has been such a powerful tool for spreading the message that they are not alone.
How is the project changing the lives of the women you support and what impact does this have on the surrounding community?
When I first started, these were women who would hide their faces. Some of them couldn’t speak, some couldn’t see. Even after multiple surgeries, some still couldn’t close their eyes at night to sleep because of the damage caused by the acid.
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One survivor who couldn’t speak to me at first was recently on the stage for Vogue, receiving an award and speaking for 10 minutes. Through Ara Lumiere, they are creating beautiful garments that other women wear, each piece carrying the story of women who were once marginalised. They’re also educating their kids, so there’s a generational impact. It shows that economic independence is possible and I think it’s changing so many lives.
How has the project evolved since its conception?
Initially it started with crisis and emergency work. Now, as we’ve evolved, it’s not about emergencies but sustainability. We’re now building platforms where there’s counselling, vocational training and skill development. We’re building a brand where women are actively involved, generating opportunities that allow them to sustain themselves and build long-term independence.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt through your work?
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I think resilience is silent, not dramatic. We need to wake up every day, even the survivors, and keep continuing at it, as it’s not an overnight process. Empowering them and making them feel resilient isn’t easy, it’s a long-term process and I’ve learnt that you need to be patient.
I’ve never believed in excessive marketing or PR. Everything we’ve done has been organised, authentic and people are drawn to the story – they want to be part of it. For me, resilience is everything.
If there was something you could change today for women and survivors of acid attacks globally, what would it be?
Immediate medical attention. No woman should be deprived because the system’s failed them. There needs to be better access to skin banks, quicker medical care and job opportunities. These women should be given priority, not treated as though they fall under the disability act, because they are not disabled. They deserve first priority in every aspect – healthcare, employment and support.
What keeps you going?
My strength comes from them. Just being able to talk with them – or even having them talk to me – is a kind of therapy. I’m so passionate about this and I’m in that phase where I want to take this across the world and show the world just how capable these women are.
I’ve seen them in hospitals, I’ve seen organs failing, damaged skin. I’ve seen them through every stage. I just feel like it’s my calling and I’ve been sent here to do this. I would give up everything to support them. I feel capable of doing so much more for them, and the future feels really bright.
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