Promotion

Kamala (name changed) is a mother of two. She works as a domestic help in Delhi to make ends meet for her family. Mandeep Nagi is a fashion designer. She is the director of Shades of India, one of India’s leading brands in soft furnishings and fashion. Mandeep happens to live in a house next to the one where Kamala works. And just when she was looking for a model to showcase her new collection, she saw Kamala and found in her the perfect image she had been looking for.

“The emphasis of our new collection, Cinnamon, is on textures and I wanted someone extraordinary,” she told The Hindu. Mandeep does not like shooting with professional models, but “with women who don’t expect to be models and suddenly feel empowered before the camera, in clothes that they like.” When Kamala heard about the idea, she was hesitant at first and thought about it for a day, before agreeing to do it. Here is a look at how she slowly gained confidence and ended the shoot with some beautiful pictures:

“I don’t know if this shoot will change her life. I know that she cherishes the experience.” said Mandeep.

The model showcasing the garments is ‘Kamala’ (not her real name)…a domestic worker who the designer, Mandeep Nagi, happened to pass by on her way back home one day. Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

With perfect carriage, style and beauty, Kamala seemed to be the perfect choice for a model, but would this mother of two, working woman from a different background agree to it? Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

Mandeep put the idea to her and watched as Kamala went through an entire range of emotions and reactions; from being taken aback to taking the first gingerly step into a world she knew nothing about. Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

She tried on the clothes, hesitant and nervous at first… Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

apprehensive at having her hair styled, her make-up being applied and… Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

And then she bloomed, her head lifted in pride… Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

…she moved as if in a dance, she played to the camera. Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

She was a different person. And she loved what she had become. Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

It was a moment in her life she would treasure forever… Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

…because it gave her a view of what the word could hold! Posted by Jaypore on Thursday, February 4, 2016

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