O Womaniya : This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

By Tarry

Hi Lovelies…

Sometimes in your life, you meet people who not only leave a mark on you, but also, make you get that feeling of fulfillment. As a journalist, I had a lot of fulfilling moments when I met people from different spheres of life. 

With the same zeal and seeking similar fulfillment, I started off O Womaniya on the blog. Have been meeting new people, whose stories are interesting.

But today on O Womaniya, I feel proud to be featuring someone, who has an inspiring story behind her.

Raise your hands for this week’s O Womaniya,

 Leesha Arora of Gilaaf…

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul 

Tell us something about yourself?

“I am a Master's in Fashion and Textiles, Nottingham Trent University (UK) done through Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi. A textile graduate from Niift, Mohali, my love for fashion and textiles also took me to the finest school of fashion and design in Italy and I ended up doing a summer course in Advance Textiles from NABA, Milan, Italy. I grew up in a typical joint family of North India. I managed to keep up with my dreams and pursued designing and am the only Business Woman in the white collared job profiled family. A typical Leo, fierce and strong willed and yet mysteriously lost in my own world. Day Dreaming is my wanderlust and my love for travelling has just begun.”

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

How did Gilaaf happen and why the name?

“After passing out from a premier institute of India, I immediately got placed into an export house as a Textile designer  and then worked for 2.5 years into different designing fields to explore my best potential. I decided to do Master's because I always felt there was a scope of education still to be attained and then on a hot summer after noon in Milan, Italy as I made a few samples for my college project Gilaaf happened. My family originally hails from Multan, Pakistan and my Grand father had come here during the partition, I was always so inspired by his stories and the way he wrote everything in Urdu, as a kid I would imitate his Urdu scripts. I always wanted to do something special for him as he is no longer on this earthy world, but still in my heart, so the idea was to keep a name which would sound uncannily elegant, catch attention and yet be rooted to Urdu and be a tribute to my ' Lalaji ' and  hence Gilaaf it was.”

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

What all is retailed through Gilaaf?

“Gilaaf means covers and we had started with all sorts of Storage which are Eco- friendly and Moth free at the same time for Apparels and Accessories. But as India is a very complex market to be understood and people were not adapting the things well, supporting things like accessories, jewelry added up. The next level launched the happiness of colors and essence of Indian-ness and Scarves it was.”

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

What has been the journey like, so far?

“The happiness you get when your 2 years old niece won't take off your hair accessory from her head. a girl who brings along her Mother to show her who hand made the Accessory she just purchased. Your Baby sister wears all your stuff and markets your brand all around her friend circle. An aunt who is the first one to like, share and comment on your post. A brother and a friend circle who sit with you all night and help in work just before the exhibition whenever you ask for help and waking up to all the amazing messages people send just to appreciate the work you have been doing. Sounds awesome doesn't it ?”

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

What has been the happiest and most memorable moment with Gilaaf?

“There have been two very special moments, As I had started Gilaaf I was exhibiting in Faridabad and it was my convocation at Pearl Academy, though I had planned a lot of things but a situation arrived and I had to choose between my business and convocation, I chose my business and by the evening the sales were also not so hiked that I was low and regretting my decision when my childhood buddies came in and made it a party scene, yelling sale-sale-sale attracting customers and fixing everything right. Then I was exhibiting in Surat and I was not on time for the production thing and as I do it all on my own I was way too struck, so my brother and his gang of friends came in sat all night got their hands bruised and still worked happily, helped me pack, dropped me to my train, jumping out and then ran all the way behind the train showering flying kisses and yelling goodbyes to me and all the people they could see till the train caught speed.”

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

Any hiccups in the journey and how you overcame them?

“My Mother is right now my biggest hiccup in the whole journey and it is still not resolved. She being a job person never supported my decision of being an entrepreneur. Yes she praises me and shows me off her pear groups but inside she is the typical Indian woman, who feels a girl is best in a secured job. I know one day she'll be really proud of me and that day is not too far away.”

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

What are your future plans for Gilaaf.

“With all my life experience of 26 years, I have personally gone through girl child discrimination. Though I am very blessed to have a Father who always supported me right through no matter what. Gilaaf plans to set up a women's only production house, empowering the rural women in the outskirts of India. We are in terms of working with an NGO which is bringing forward a Fashion School for underprivileged girls and women. And Lastly Gilaaf plans for a very organic and moth free future for the most amazing Indian Royal Heritage Attires which need the most special storage ever been made.”

Indian Lifestyle Blog Panchtatva the essence of Life / This woman's Gilaaf not just covers your body, but also your soul

PEL SHOUTS : You are a beautiful girl Leesha, and your smile has that zeal to do something and reach out for the stars. I have seen the collection of Gilaaf and I must admit that the concept and the work is indeed worth a checkout for sure. Leesha’s Gilaaf is not only giving a moth-free cover to our cherished clothes, but also a cover to the lives of many girls will be associated with Gilaaf’s endevours. Kudos to you Leesha..

Gilaaf’s collection can be checked out at :

Indian Roots : http://www.indianroots.in/brands/e-l/gilaaf

Olivetag : www.olivetag.com/gilaaf.html

Instagram : http://instagram.com/gilaaf

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/gilaafproductdesign

How did you like this feature?

 Are you also involved in any such initiatives or know anyone and would like them to feature? 

Do write in the comments box below with your mail id or connect at panchtatva.essenceoflife@gmail.com...