Hanifa Hameed x SAADA
About "Arrival"
Artwork inspired by the story of Lakshmy Parameswaran's first day in the U.S.
Hanifa Hameed x SAADA
Behind the Design
Hanifa Hameed's artwork for "Arrival" was inspired by Lakshmy Parameswaran's story of her journey to the United States in 1973, when she was 24 years old.
My name is Lakshmy Parameswaran.
"When I left, I was wearing a silk sari and I was all full of smiles; when I arrived here, my sari was in tatters and my shoes were biting, you know, the shoe bites, so my legs were full of sores. I couldn't even walk, I was limping. And I was practically in tears."
Lakshmy Parameswaran's story is preserved in SAADA's First Days Project, our archive of immigrants' and refugees' experiences of arrival in the U.S.
Introducing the Artist: Hanifa Hameed
Hanifa Hameed
Hanifa Hameed is a UI UX designer by day and illustrator by night. She is inspired by her love for color, strong women, fashion, and culture.
The Story Behind the Design
Lakshmy Parameswaran's First Day
Lakshmy talks about her journey to the United States and how her sari ended up in tatters.
"One of the things that I've done as an immigrant that I'm very, very proud of…"
Founding Daya, Inc.
Lakshmy talks about the founding of Daya, Inc., which serves South Asian victims of family violence.
"…I wanted to make sure their stories were recorded for history."
The Interviewer: Kamala Gururaja
Kamala is currently a freshman in high school and interviewed Lakshmy for SAADA's First Days Project.
"I wanted to create this very iconic image for South Asian American immigrants."
Explore More
Hanifa Hameed
Hanifa Hameed is a UI UX designer by day and illustrator by night. She is inspired by her love for color, strong women, fashion, and culture.
First Days Project
SAADA's First Days Project shares more than 500 stories from immigrants and refugees about their very first experiences in the United States.
Daya, Inc.
Lakshmy Parameswaran is one of the founders of Daya, Inc., established in 1996 to serve South Asian victims of family violence.
Daya's mission is to empower South Asian survivors of domestic and sexual violence through culturally specific services and to educate the community in an effort to end the cycle of abuse.
Shop the "Arrival" Collection
