Mumbai – October 08, 2026 -- The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has extended its three-year partnership with Ara Lumière to Milan Fashion Week, bringing The Phoenix Circle initiative and artist Raghava KK's PASSPORT project to a global luxury audience.
The Leela ties its luxury brand to a three-year social impact campaign
The hospitality group, India's largest institutionally owned pure-play luxury brand with 15 operating properties backed by Brookfield, used the Milan platform to position its "True Indian Luxury" positioning around cultural and social initiatives rather than hospitality services alone.
The Phoenix Circle centers women survivors of acid and burn attacks in creative livelihood
Founded by philanthropist Kulsum Shadab Wahab, the initiative channels fashion and art into economic opportunity and creative expression for the women it supports, reframing their public narrative around agency rather than adversity.
PASSPORT collaboration pairs artist Raghava KK with survivor-creators on themes of identity
The project was presented at an intimate Milan gathering during Fashion Week, merging the artist's conceptual work with creative contributions from women affiliated with The Phoenix Circle.
Preeti Makhija, General Manager of The Leela Palace New Delhi, said the collaboration reflects a belief that luxury carries more weight when tied to purpose and dialogue, framing the Milan presentation as a vehicle for exporting an Indian cultural perspective onto a global fashion stage.
Partnership coincides with The Leela marking four decades of operation
The company is using the milestone to reinforce fashion and cultural programming as an extension of its brand beyond hotel operations, a strategy it has repeated annually at Milan Fashion Week since the partnership began three years ago.