IhsanIshan Design
IhsanIshan Design is a luxury fine arts and design studio at the forefront of promoting global culture.
Founded by acclaimed designer Sangeetha Kowsik, IhsanIshan produces one-of-a-kind, unisex textiles, art prints, and accessories inspired by the art of traditional Arabic Calligraphy, global iconography, all with a modern luxe flair.
Sangeetha, a Parsons School of Design graduate, has taken her South Asian heritage, world travel, and fashion design expertise to produce breathtaking designs for Ralph Lauren, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Asia Society, and Tiffany & Co. All these distinct experiences now guide the creative direction of IhsanIshan.
Each IhsanIshan piece has a story and design concept behind it which aims to educate the world about the unique richness of ancient traditions and cultures.
WHAT DOES IHSAN ISHAN MEAN?
Ihsan translates to “do beautiful things" in Arabic.
According to the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet, peace & blessings upon his name),
Ihsan means to worship God as if you saw Him, for even if you cannot see Him, He can see you.
Ihsan is the perfectly sincere worship of God, when knowledge and will have completely merged with the Divine. Ihsan is primarily associated with intention and to approach and carry out everything in the most beautiful way possible. It is generally believed that a person can only achieve true Ihsan with the guidance of God, who governs all things.
Ishan means "omnipresent or omnipotent" in Sanskrit. Ishan has its roots in the word "ish,” which means “the invisible power that governs the universe.” Several words in Sanskrit contain “ish” including “Ishwar” (referring to the third eye of Lord Shiva) and “Ishaan” (translates to a master or ruler)
My interpretation of combining Ihsan and Ishan is :
"Beauty is Omnipresent. Faith is Beauty. Beauty is Knowledge."
––– Sangeetha Kowsik
Ihsan Ishan Logo
The crescent moon is significant in both Islam and Hinduism.
In Hinduism, Lord Shiva (The lord of dance) is depicted with it in his hair.
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance from South India and the first form of dance I learned. These dancers wear a crescent moon in their hair along with a sun ornament.
The crescent is also represented in the shape of nose rings South Indian temple goddesses are adorned with. The shape appears again in the fanned out portion of their Saris (traditional Indian garments.)
I chose purple in reference to the color of the sunset (significant in Islam) and because it is associated with Lord Shiva and the cosmos.
This particular shade was influenced by the rich luxe lipstick shades I worked with in the fashion industry.
I wanted the logo to feel ornamental, like a piece of jewelry. "Ihsan" is written on the right, "Ishan" is written on the left in stylized Kufic script.
IhsanIshan Design is born out of extensive research and we fully respect all religious traditions. Arabic Calligraphy products are produced with consultation from noted Islamic Scholars and religious leaders (Imams).