Actor, designer first Sikh to be featured by clothing chain.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Indian American actor Waris Ahluwalia is featured prominently in Gap’s new publicity campaign throughout the country. A fashion designer in his own right, Ahluwalia is the first Sikh to be featured by the omnipresent clothing chain.
The ad, which is part of the company’s Holiday 2013 campaign, has drawn huge amount of praise from the Sikh Diaspora throughout America. Gap has received thousands of tweets in support of the ad, with many Sikhs saying that it helps give younger and future generations a positive message in the wake of so many anti-Sikh crimes that have plagued the country in recent times.
Originally from near Amritsar, Punjab, Ahluwalia and his family moved to New York when he was five years old. He has established his own fashion company, House of Waris, which deals mostly in fine jewelry and scarves. Through his company, Ahluwalia has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry, including Maxfield, A.P.C., De Beers, Collette in Paris, and Benjamin Choo.
Additionally, Ahluwalia is an actor, who most will likely remember from the 2007 Wes Anderson film The Darjeeling Limited. He also had a brief role in the 2006 Spike Lee film Inside Man, in which he shared scenes with screen legend Denzel Washington and is well-remembered for a scene in which he passionately defends his wearing of a turban to those around him who make fun of it (it can be viewed below).
The Ahluwalia ad is on display at 866 Gap locations across the country, and is featured prominently on the company’s official website and Facebook page. He is posing with Quentin Jones, an artist and model.