Holi Hai!: A Festival of Color Celebrating the Women of India at Ibu Movement’s Annual Gala

Featuring a runway show and mini-sumit honoring International Women’s Day

CHARLESTON, SC, February 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) — On March 5, 2026, the Ibu Movement Foundation will host its highly anticipated annual fundraiser with a new event celebrating the rich cultural heritage and remarkable craftsmanship of women artisans from across India, Holi Hai!

Presented by Bank of America Private Bank, the event will be held during the week of International Women’s Day, coinciding with the Holi Festival, and will bring together over 300 allies of the Ibu Movement in Charleston, SC, to support the empowerment of women through the art of their hands. The evening will honor Ibu’s 2025 Global Champions Arushi Chowdhury Khanna, founder of LoomKatha in Aurangabad, Mamta Varma, founder of Bhairvi’s Chikan in Lucknow, and Anita Reddy, founder of Dwaraka Plus in Bangalore.

Holi is a major Hindu festival showcasing vibrant colors and honoring Spring, rebirth, and the triumph of good over evil. Ibu’s vibrant celebration will highlight women artisans across India whose heritage skills are driving community change. From himroo weavers in Aurangabad to block printers in Delhi, embroiderers in Lucknow to kalamkari artists in Bangalore, these innovators are sparking a design renaissance while advancing education, healthcare, nutrition, and community life. This evening will honor their artistry and impact during a night of color, creativity, and connection.

“Ibu thrives on color, bold and explosive, just like the Holi festival in India, where dyes and pigments become the language of spring’s exuberant renewal. How can we help but celebrate?” said Susan Hull Walker, founder of the Ibu Movement. “With this gorgeous tradition falling on the date of Ibu’s annual gathering, we are excited to honor our artisan partners in India — Ibu Global Champions 2026 — changing their worlds. Join the color! Join the joy! Join us in the hope of a prospering world for women.”

Event Highlights

1. Women in India Mini Summit: A four-session summit on the morning of March 5 will be held at the Charleston Library Society, presented by the Wayne & Alicia Gregory Family Foundation, featuring celebrated global leaders on the topics of culture and heritage, artisan design and impact, and women leaders around the country. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage with the speakers through Q&A sessions at the end of each presentation, and will be able to shop work from each of the artisan groups at the Ibu Showroom following the presentations. Speakers include:

• Veda Patel, a junior at Ashley Hall School in Charleston, will speak about her great-grandmother’s participation in Gandhi’s Swadeshi Movement
• Arushi Chowdhury Khanna (LoomKatha, Aurangabad) and Mamta Varma (Bhairvi’s Chikan, Lucknow) will discuss the process of preserving heritage craft and the impact on women artisans earning a living wage, in a conversation moderated by Ibu founder, Susan Hull Walker.
• Internationally-acclaimed artist Spandita Malik combines photography, textiles, and social practice in artworks that explore gender, authority, and representation. Malik will discuss her work with Dr. Tushara Bindu Gude, curator at the Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts and former curator of South and Southeast Asian Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
• Shimna Sameer, Bank of America Private Bank Managing Director, Head of Products, Solutions and Platforms, in conversation with Deniz Roth, Ibu director of design, and Anita Reddy, founder of Dwaraka Plus in Bangalore, will discuss design collaboration and the impact of the SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier program.

2. Fashion + Shopping: Attendees will be the first to experience and purchase unique, handcrafted designs from Ibu’s artisan partners, showcasing the creativity and skill of women across India.

3. Celebration + Conversation: The gala will feature a seated dinner with Indian-inspired delicacies.

4. Onsite Giving: Guests will have the opportunity to further support the Ibu Movement through a paddle raise and live auction, contributing directly to expanding Ibu’s artisan alliance, marketplace, and grant funding.

5. Artisan Spotlight: The event will spotlight artisans from Delhi, Bangalore, Aurangabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, and more, highlighting the profound impact of Ibu’s work on their communities.

“A chance meeting with Susan Walker at IFAM years ago has blossomed into a remarkable partnership between IBU and DWARAKA PLUS — one filled with deep gratitude. From the start, IBU recognized both the collective journey of empowering rural women in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, and the beauty of reviving authentic, hand-painted Kalamkari art in Sri Kalahasti,” said Anita Reddy, co-founder of DWARAKA PLUS. “What began with trust has grown into a sustainable, cross-border movement that uplifts once-marginalized women, and we look forward to celebrating this revival with the IBU team in Charleston.”

Bank of America Private Bank and their Philanthropic Solutions team provides individuals, families and foundations, like Ibu Movement, with expertise and resources to pursue their philanthropic missions. The Ibu Movement is thrilled to further engage with the Bank of America Private Bank and their Philanthropic Solutions team as the presenting sponsor of Holi Hai!

“We are honored to continue our support of the Ibu Movement at the 2026 Holi Hai! Festival of Color,” added Katy Knox, president of Bank of America Private Bank.This vibrant celebration is more than an event — it’s a tribute to the remarkable artisans whose stories, skills, and spirit inspire us. Their work reflects the beauty of global connection and the power of economic opportunity. We look forward to celebrating their creativity and the communities they uplift.”

On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Ibu Movement’s mini summit will take place at the Charleston Library Society and The Waka Waka gala will be held at Festival Hall in the heart of downtown Charleston. Gala tables and mini summit tickets are available for purchase now at ibumovement.org and individual tickets to the gala will be available for purchase on Friday, October 17.

For more information and event details, please visit  ibumovement.org/pages/holi-hai or contact Lasley Steever at  lasley@ibumovement.org.

The word Ibu means “a woman of respect” in the Malay language of Indonesia. Ibu is a global movement of women rising into self-sufficiency through the art of their hands and hearts. Ibu is a 501(c)(3) organization offering a marketplace for the handmade goods of its global artisan partners in more than 50 countries, as well as grants to support operational growth. The organization also hosts events and global travel experiences to connect allies with artisans around the world — turning the art of their hands into a powerful tool for disruption and innovation. For more information, please visit ibumovement.org.

Media Contact

Ausitn Walker

CEO, Ibu Movement Foundation

austin@ibumovement.org

+1 843-478-0396

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SOURCE: Ibu Movement Foundation

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