Chandigarh: Fashion with a purpose took centre stage in Chandigarh as renowned octogenarian (85 years old) fashion designer Pali Waraich, who is wife of an Army veteran, brought her handcrafted collection to the city through a three-day exhibition organised under her label, Pali’s Zameen-Asmaan. The showcase is on at Hotel Aroma, Chandigarh, from October 21 to 23, 2026, from 10 am to 8 pm.
Pali told reporters at a media interaction held on the side-lines of the exhibition that just before the festive season she is showcasing a wide range of handcrafted- crochet & hand embrdererd apparel, accessories and home décor products, beautifully blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.
At 85, Pali Waraich continues to pursue her passion for fashion while working towards the economic empowerment of underprivileged women. She said, “Through Pali’s Zameen-Asmaan, my main objective is to empower needy women by training them in crafts like hand crochet. I have been providing employment opportunities to women artisans by encouraging traditional crafts. I am happy that my initiative has helped women use their skills to earn a livelihood while working from their homes.”
Today, more than 200 women who have been empowered financially by Pali Waraich are working with her.
For Pali, fashion was not merely about clothing or trends but also about creating opportunities for women to become financially independent and live with dignity and self-respect. Her initiative reflected her belief that traditional handicrafts could play an important role in improving the lives of women from economically weaker sections of society.
Speaking about her initiative, Pali Waraich said, “Fashion is most beautiful when it uplifts another woman. Zameen-Asmaan is not my label; it is the sky of dreams for hundreds of women who found their ground through their craft. This festive season, we invite Chandigarh to take home not just a dress, but a blessing.”
Pali had established her label with the vision of combining creative fashion with social welfare. Over the years, she had worked closely with women artisans, guiding them in creating attractive and elegant designs. Rather than limiting her work to designing, she had taken her initiative to women in their homes, helping them learn new designs and earn through their craftsmanship.
Her dedication to women’s welfare had also been reflected in her work under the banner of the Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA), where she had undertaken several welfare programmes. As the wife of an Army officer, she had remained committed to supporting women and helping them improve their lives through skill development and employment.
Pali Waraich’s designs had also received recognition in the fashion world. Her creations had been worn by prominent personalities, including former Miss Universe Lara Dutta and Chandigarh MP and actress Kirron Kher. She had also created designs for the studio of renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani. Despite recognition in the fashion industry, she had continued to focus on empowering women through traditional crafts.
The products showcased at the exhibition are handcrafted, with an emphasis on sustainable practices and traditional techniques. Each creation reflects the effort, skill and creativity of the women artisans involved in making it.
Through Pali’s Zameen-Asmaan, Pali Waraich had continued to demonstrate how traditional crafts could become a source of livelihood, confidence and dignity for women, while keeping India’s rich handicraft traditions alive.
