Manish Malhotra talks about fashion that empowers

Designer Manish Malhotra talks about fashion that empowers, and his new range that launches today.

He has dressed almost every star in the film industry and continues to ­headline major fashion weeks across the country. Yet, ace designer Manish Malhotra always manages to stir up something fresh that takes his love for fashion ­forward.

Read:A lot of firsts this time: Manish Malhotra

One project by the designer is his association with The Mijwan Welfare Society, which supports the art of design for a good cause. "Mijwan is a village in Azamgarh, UP. Late legendary poet Kaifi Azmi started this little dream of empowerment of women in this village which his ­daughter, actor Shabana Azmi, took forward. I took over the NGO three years ago," says Malhotra.

He adds that, in the past few years, the initiative has gone from strength to strength. "It started with 40 women, and now we have 150 women ­workers. Fabrics and designs go from my work studio, and then they do the chikankari hand embroidery. It then comes back to me and goes through the process of bleaching, dyeing etc. After that, it becomes a garment."

His latest collection comprises lehengas, kalidars and more for women, and ­sherwanis for men. The ­collection launches today at the designer’s flagship haveli store at Ambawatta One in Mehrauli, New Delhi. Earlier this month, he presented this range at the Men for Mijwan show, where Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and Ranbir Kapoor walked the ramp.