Turning Tradition Into Power | Lida Mangal | Founder of Ghan Fashion

Lida Mangal grew up during wartime in Afghanistan and now lives in Sydney, where she runs Ghan Fashion, an ethical brand preserving Afghan traditional dress and employing Afghan women. Lida shares her story of resilience, her passion for color and cultural heritage, and how fashion became both her creative outlet and her form of advocacy. You’ll hear how she built a life rooted in purpose, what it takes to run a cross-continental business, and why preserving identity through art and design matters more than ever. It’s a conversation about women’s rights, cultural preservation, and leading with vision. Chapters: 00:00 Lida’s journey from Afghanistan to Australia 02:10 Starting a fashion business with a mission 03:55 What traditional Afghan fashion represents 05:20 Empowering Afghan women through employment 06:45 Running an international business during conflict 08:30 Preserving culture through clothing design 10:15 What the garments mean to Afghan women 12:00 Designing for joy, resilience, and protest 14:10 The power of color in fashion and identity 16:00 How Lida discovered her passion for design 17:20 Memories of childhood and wartime 19:05 What resilience looks like in real life 21:15 Raising strong, kind children 23:00 Why belief in yourself is a radical act 25:10 How women can change the narrative for generations 27:20 Advice for staying hopeful and creating impact The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices