Srinagar, Sep 14: A young girl entrepreneur from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district has turned a childhood craft learnt from her mother into a handmade crochet brand that reaches customers worldwide through social media, saying self-employment has given her a sense of independence and self-respect that a salaried job never could.
Sania Nisar, founder of ‘Knots and Stitches’, deals in purely handmade crochet products and offers a range of items including bouquets, flowers, small pouches, tote bags, handbags and keychains. Customers can also place customised orders by reaching her directly.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener at recently held business event here, Saniya said such platforms give small entrepreneurs the exposure and encouragement they need to grow.
“I am very happy to come here and participate in such events for small businesses. I feel very grateful for all this, because we also get some exposure and we get an opportunity to move forward,” she said, thanking the organisers.
Recalling how the venture began, Saniya Nisar said the idea came from her mother, who used to knit socks when she was a child.
“I used to learn from her, and then I started to learn more. For example, I started to make beanies and sweaters. After that, I thought of making small things. I made a rose for the first time, then I tried to make a strawberry keychain the second time. Because of that, I tried to make different things, and now I can make everything,” she said.
Asked about taking a traditional Kashmiri craft to a commercial level, Saniya Nisar said it was a good thing for the region as it helps carry its culture forward.
“I think if I took it to a commercial level, it is a good thing for Kashmir, because the culture of Kashmir is moving forward. I am on Instagram, and not only the people of Kashmir use Instagram — global people use it. So global people can see me, and they can see all of this,” she said.
“And global people can know about the culture of Kashmir, they can promote it, they can buy things from it, and they can also help,” she added.
Saniya Nisar said she currently markets her products only on Instagram and plans to expand to Amazon in the future.
On women empowerment, Saniya Nisar said running one’s own business gives a woman independence and saves her from having to work under someone else’s terms.
“I feel that when a woman does her business, she feels empowered, because she is independent. She doesn’t have anyone’s support — like I am now. I made things on my own will, with my own thinking, that I have to make this much,” she said.
Drawing a contrast with private employment, she said, “If I was doing a private job, if I had a boss, then I wouldn’t be able to achieve his goal. So obviously I had to get scolded. And it was a different thing to have less self-respect.”
“So according to this, I feel that if a woman is doing her business, then she is doing a very good thing — even if she is young. Like I am not that old, I am young. So she is starting from zero. She should do this. If she is getting an idea, she should go for it, because she will get the happiness that she is independent. She won’t have to live under anyone’s roof,” Saniya said.
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