I received a very special gift from someone special during Connect Live 2026. More importantly, his presence was what we looked forward to the most. When I learned that this person’s travel preparations went smoothly and he was able to come to Singapore, I felt very grateful 
So, who is this someone special and what is the special gift? 
He is the one and only :
@KashifMisidia Bhai
Let’s give our superstar from Karachi, Pakistan 
a virtual round of applause
The special gift is a piece of beautiful fabric called Ajrak, some keychains, and a very thoughtful letter with his signature. Once I unboxed the gift, I wore the Ajrak immediately to see how it looked on me; it turned out to be beautiful with its bright and elegant red color 
Beyond its beautiful patterns and colors, there is deep culture and meaning in Ajrak. This is based on the explanation from Kashif Bhai in his letter. I would love my fellow Local Guides to know about Ajrak, too.
Ajrak is not merely a piece of fabric, but a physical glimpse into the rich history of the Indus Valley, a civilization that flourished the region of ancient India, and is now preserved in the Sindh province of modern-day Pakistan.
HISTORICAL ROOTS: A LINK TO ANTIQUITY
The significance of Ajrak is deeply rooted in the Indus Valley Civilization. Archaeological excavations at Mohenjo-Daro—a site of shared ancient heritage—have revealed ancient statues draped in garments featuring patterns strikingly similar to the modern-day Ajrak. This incredible continuity suggests that the tradition of block-printing these geometric designs has been preserved through thousands of years.
A SYMBOL OF UNIVERSAL EQUALITY
The intricate, repeating geometric patterns represent the universe. Its traditional natural colors are deeply symbolic: Deep crimson represents the earth and the sun, indigo (blue) signifies the night sky and the mighty Indus River, and white captures the purity of the stars. It bridges societal gaps, carrying the same dignity for everyone—transcending class and status to unite us all.
AN EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE OF HONOR
Presenting an Ajrak is a sacred gesture where the giver offers their own honor to the guest. Wrapped in its warmth, the guest feels the embrace of an entire civilization, creating an unbreakable bond of love and respect that remains long after this event.
When I came back to Jakarta, I thought that it would be better if I could make this fabric into something ready to wear, so that I could wear the Ajrak frequently, comfortably, and properly.
Then, I asked Kashif Bhai for permission to sew the Ajrak into an outfit, and he said yes, we definitely can; he even shared some references of outfits that were made with Ajrak.
I planned to turn the Ajrak into either a skirt or an outer. My task was to find a skillful tailor to transform this Ajrak into a beautiful outfit. I thought of my schoolmate who is a fashion designer. Several years ago, I had a dress and a skirt made by her. Unfortunately, when I texted her, she told me that she no longer makes clothes.
After that, I asked some friends for tailor recommendations. Finally, I remembered there is one in my neighborhood market. The good news was that she could still sew the fabric into an outfit at an affordable price 
She highly recommended making the Ajrak into a skirt because the fabric was not large enough to make an outer.
After two weeks, my Ajrak skirt is finished, and it turned out so beautiful. The tailor was amazing because there was no fabric left over; she used the entire piece because she did not want to miss a single pattern from the Ajrak. Kudos to my experienced and skillful tailor
I wore this Ajrak skirt for the first time at my sister’s birthday lunch, and my family reminded me to take pictures while wearing it and share them with Kashif Bhai 
To complete my Ajrak look and make it more beautiful, I also wore these beautiful bangles from @FarhanaRupa
Thanks again, dear 
Thank you so much, Kashif Bhai; your gift of pride and tradition has been well received
I hope I look as beautiful as the Pakistani women when wearing the Ajrak 
That way, I can celebrate both your creativity and 
Appreciate it.
