When Rihanna sat in a bold red chair at Design Miami, it wasn’t just another moment of celebrity chic. This time, the true star wasn’t Rihanna — yes, surprisingly, we know — it was actually the chair. Known as the Flap Chair, this avant-garde piece from Mumbai-based design brand, Chamar Studio is less about trend and more about revolution.
Created by artist Sudhir Rajbhar, the Flap Chair is more than just furniture. It’s rebellion molded in rubber, carrying the weight of history that speaks of resilience, creativity, and unflinching challenge to social norms.
More sculpture than seat, the flap is a chair Rajbhar’s debut In furniture, though, it’s no simple decoration. Dramatic stitching, oversized belts, and pockets turn it into a manifesto of bold creativity. Its sharp edges and commanding presence defy convention, creating a throne for those who refuse to bow – perfect for Miss Fenty.
Months of tireless work and a team of three artisans brought this masterpiece to life. Each chair—costing a staggering Rs 1 million—was made in 5-7 months in a small studio in Mumbai. Rajbhar called it not just a piece of furniture but a “work of art”.
This dramatization is not accidental. Rajbhar blends his love of fashion with the art of storytelling. The flap chair demands attention, not because it is functional, but because it carries meaning.
A material that speaks of existence
The story of the flap chair begins in the polished galleries of Miami or Colaba. It begins in Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest slums, where leather artisans from the Dalit community thrived, making everything from bags to belts. But in 2015, a nationwide beef ban disrupted their world. Their craft, tied to the material, is now made untouchable, fading away.
The brand doesn’t just make bags or chairs; An attempt to turn invisibility into visibility (Photo by Sudhir Rajbhar)
Sudhir Rajbhar saw opportunity in this crisis. He turned to rubber, a humble but versatile material that he would go on to master. Rubber, free from religious or political controversy, became a means of survival and reinvention.
Rajbar’s process turned it into something extraordinary: layers of shrink mesh sandwiched between sheets of pigmented rubber, so that the material becomes as flexible as the people it represents.
Chamar Studios: A brand with a cause
The name Chamar Studio itself is a recovery. In India, “Chamar” is a caste-based color, a word meaning to wound. Rajbhar, who grew up hearing this hurled as an insult, decided to reclaim it. “If Paris can have Hermès, why can’t India have Chamar?” he asks.
The brand doesn’t just make bags or chairs; It is an attempt to turn invisibility into visibility. Born in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, Rajbhar knows what it means to fight for identity. Even today, he says, caste classification is strong in his hometown. His father, a proud man, would sit on the floor even if a high-caste person entered the room, he says.
With Chamar Studio, Rajbhar is fighting – with craftsmanship. He says, ‘People laugh when they hear the name. “But I want them to think. To ask questions. To face their prejudices.”
Art meets activism
While Rihanna’s moment in the flap chair may have brought global attention, Rajbar sees the chair as more than a celebrity prop. It is a symbol of what marginalized communities can achieve when given the tools they create.
Rajbhar attributes the success of Chamar Studio to its artisans. Working with discarded materials such as rubber, they have developed a sustainable, innovative practice that transforms waste into art. For his latest collection, the team created dramatic armchairs, each one unique, each bearing the legacy of a long-neglected craft.
“These are not just products,” explains Rajbhar. “They are stories of survival. Of people pushed to the margins but refusing to disappear.
Three of these commanding pieces were exhibited at the collection fair, and all three sold. Yet Rajbhar is clear about the challenges of balancing creativity and commerce. “It (the brand) is not yet a commercial success story,” he admits. “I have invested more than I earned. But that’s what art demands.”
What frustrates him more is the lack of support from within India. “If I had gone to a big-name art school, maybe the brand would have multiplied in popularity. But I don’t have that privilege.”
He dreams of more support, more investment, more recognition for artisans and the stories they carry. But even without it, Rajbhar is determined to move forward. He says, ‘People think that art is for the elite. “But this chair, this brand—it’s for everyone. It’s a reminder that beauty and strength come from the most unexpected places.
From the vibrant streets of Dharavi to the glittering stages of Miami, Chamar Studios carries a simple message: marginalized voices have stories worth hearing and their hands can create miracles worth celebrating.
It’s not just a chair. It’s a revolution, one seat at a time.
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