Usman Mirza is one of the most senior members at Papa Don’t Preach, working here for almost 14 years. When a Papa Don’t Preach silhouette catches your eye online or on red carpets, it is brought to life by Usman Mirza and his team. He stands as one of the pillars of our studio, his presence quiet yet undeniably legendary.
Before he ever led a team of thirty to forty karigars, Usman Mirza was a seventeen year old carrying a responsibility heavy enough to change his life. He stepped into karigari not out of ambition but out of urgency, stitching his way through his sister’s medical expenses long before he found himself shaping the world of Papa Don’t Preach and, in turn, luxury handcrafted fashion in India. The craft he learned at seventeen came from generations before him and today forms the backbone of our artisan made Bridal Couture.
“For me, my education was my skill and my art form. There are different kinds of studies and this was mine. Even today, if I try to create art on the laptop or the devices I see in the studio, it will never be as detailed as what my hands can draw.” To him, craftsmanship is not a profession but a discipline, passed down through memory, muscle, and time. His hands hold a language no machine can translate.
“I want my daughter to become a doctor, but my son should join my line of work. This craft is unique and beautiful. Look closely today and you’ll see how rare a well trained karigar is, someone that protects, the very craft that shapes Bridal Couture in India.” says Usman with immense pride.
In the studio, Usman Mirza is a star in his own right. Ask him about his favourite part of his work and he lights up before responding with “Celebrity fittings!”. Not because of the glamour, but because they give him stories to take home to his wife and two kids. “It makes me proud to know that something we made holds value at big occasions. It feels good to know I get to create something my son can look up to. Pieces created by my team and I that get to be seen by people all around the world.”
In the world of luxury designer wearthe makers go un-noticed. Papa Don’t Preach stands for crediting the craftsmen for pieces 100% handcrafted by them. “Wherever in the world this lehenga or saree goes, it has our name on it.”
Fourteen years later, Usman Mirza’s presence remains central to how Papa Don’t Preach creates and delivers its most iconic pieces. His story remains one that the brand celebrates and a legacy that will carry on.
