The pop star’s choice of seat wasn’t just about style: it carried with it the story of Chamar Studio, a design collective from Mumbai’s slums. He’s a Dalit artist from Uttar Pradesh, the founder of Chamar Studio and designer of the flap chair. “After the ban, the Chamar community could no longer work with animal leather,” Rajbhar told Positive News. Rihanna’s viral moment on the flap chair put Chamar Studio on the global map, says Anubhav Nath, director of Delhi’s Ojas Art gallery. “By transforming waste into art, and insult into pride, we are reshaping both our environment and our society.” This story was published with Egab.co, which helps local journalists in the Middle East and Africa reach regional and international media Main image: Chamar Studio