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Head of Department
Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts & Design
Kiran Khan, an NCA graduate with international training, founded BNU’s Textile, Fashion, and Accessories Design Department. She leads craft revival initiatives, winning the Mac Jannet Prize, and developed the Innovative Design curriculum for rural women. She also collaborates with major brands while running her own embellishment design studio.
Kiran Khan is a distinguished professor and the Head of the Textile, Fashion, and Accessories Department at the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design (MDSVAD), Beaconhouse National University (BNU). With over two decades of experience in academia and textile design, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Pakistan’s contemporary textile education.
Kiran earned her Bachelor of Design from the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, specializing in textiles. Her thesis, The World Beyond the Senses, received distinction, and she was honored with the prestigious Percy Brown Award for Art History. She also earned two gold medals for her outstanding performances as part of NCA’s renowned puppet team, The Puppeteers NCA.
Her teaching career began at the Pakistan School of Fashion Design (PSFD)—now Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD)—where she dedicated eight years to developing the textile curriculum. During this time, she expanded her expertise with specialized training in textile design, accessories, and fashion drawing from La Chambre Syndicale De la Couture, France. She was also selected by JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) for advanced training at Bunka College of Fashion in Tokyo.
In 2004, she joined BNU and established the Textile, Fashion and Accessories Design Department, leading its growth and innovation for over 16 years. She further enriched her academic profile by completing a Master’s in Linguistics from BNU in 2014, emphasizing the intricate connection between language and art. She believes that "all textiles convey a different story, and it is through language that we understand this story."
Kiran’s commitment to craft revival and women’s empowerment is reflected in her department’s groundbreaking initiatives. The Humnawa Project, a community craft initiative in collaboration with Sungi and Bunyaad under the Punjab Skills Development Programme, won the Mac Jannet Prize, a prestigious international award from the Talloires Network. She also developed the 'Innovative Design' curriculum for empowering rural women, in partnership with Kaarvan Craft Foundation. This initiative follows the structural model of Humnawa, aiming to train 1,600 women in clusters and serve as a blueprint for craft practitioners across South East Asia.
Beyond academia, Kiran has made significant contributions to the textile industry. She has developed designs for leading brands such as Mausummery Lawn, Sitara Textiles, and Five Star Lawn. She also runs her own Embellishment Design Studio, where she collaborates with local embroidery craftsmen to create bespoke hand-embroidered textiles.
In 2018, she was an Artist-in-Residence at Art Address in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, further expanding her global footprint in textile arts. With her extensive expertise, passion for craft revival, and dedication to education, Kiran Khan continues to be a trailblazer in the field of textile and fashion design.
Main Campus 13 KM Off Thokar Niazbeg -
Raiwind Road, Tarogil, Lahore - 53700, Pakistan, Raiwind Road, Lahore
