VIRSA VEIL: A LIVING ARCHIVE OF HERITAGE AND FEMALE BRAVERY IN CONTEMPORARY FASHION

Abstract

This paper explores Virsa Veil as a living archive of cultural heritage and an artistic expression of female bravery in contemporary fashion. Rooted in the historical resilience of Swabi women in nineteenth-century Pakistan, the project reinterprets the traditional Chail veil as a bridge between ancestral memory and modern design. Drawing upon postcolonial theory, feminist craft studies, and sustainable design practice, the study demonstrates how fashion can function as a medium of storytelling, identity formation, and empowerment. Through qualitative analysis, combining archival research, design ethnography, and visual documentation, the paper investigates how Virsa Veil transforms cultural artifacts into living narratives of resilience and continuity. The findings indicate that the project not only preserves craft traditions but also expands fashion’s social function by addressing gendered histories and ethical sustainability. Ultimately, Virsa Veil exemplifies how heritage-inspired fashion can renew cultural identity while inspiring global dialogue on empowerment, sustainability, and creative hybridity.