Latest news with #Saara
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Hyderabad's bridal industry empowering young women, turning them into entrepreneurs
Sania Tabassum Hyderabad's wedding culture, steeped in Nizami grandeur, has fuelled a booming bridal industry, helping transform young Muslim women into entrepreneurs. From intricate henna designs to bespoke makeup, young artistes are redefining financial freedom in a multi-crore market driven by personalised services. Nineteen-year-old Saara, daughter of a motor mechanic, grew up in financial hardship. Her mother's tailoring business waned as readymade bridal wear surged, pushing her to contribute to the family earning after Class 10. She honed her henna and makeup skills under the mentorship of a skilled bridal artiste, Fathima. Now charging ₹3,000 per henna session, with clients covering travel, Ms. Saara's success quelled her father's initial concerns about late-night events. Her story reflects a broader movement among Hyderabad's young Muslim women, turning bridal services into a path to independence. Woman-centric industry In Hyderabad's Old City, from Charminar to Yakutpura, young women from modest backgrounds are reshaping tradition. The bridal industry, once parlour-bound, now thrives on creativity and independence. The bridal industry offers a safe, women-only space, free from male-dominated workplaces. Clients often arrange transport, easing logistical challenges. Social media has revolutionized access, allowing artistes like Ms. Saara to compete with high-end studios. Brides like Meherunisa say that she discovered talent online, drawn to Ms. Saara's ability to deliver precise looks inspired by celebrities like Alia Bhatt's minimal henna design or Anushka Sharma's pastel lehenga. This digital shift has democratized the industry, enabling artistes to serve diverse budgets while fostering a vibrant community of shared techniques and global trends. High-end artistes like Aliya Baig, founder of Aliya Baig Makeovers and Aliya Baig Academy of Makeup (ABAM), ranked among Asia's top three, mentor aspiring artists. 'At ABAM, we transform women into confident entrepreneurs,' Ms. Baig says. Her academy guides students from their first brushstroke to building portfolios and securing clients. Many graduates become freelancers, studio owners, or educators. Similarly, Meena Mehendi, a pioneer with eight years of experience, teaches at MS Degree College, training hundreds annually. 'I started for money, but now I uplift my community's girls,' Ms. Meena shares. Her students view henna as a lucrative career. Educational and government support Colleges like Andhra Mahila Sabha College offer makeup and beauty courses for ₹15,000, enrolling over 200 girls annually, 80% of them Muslim. Director Laxmi Cakancharla notes: 'They learn fast, earning quickly.' Government initiatives bolster this growth. The Mahila Udyam Nidhi Yojana by SIDBI provides up to ₹10 lakh loans with flexible repayment, enabling artistes to invest in quality products. Telangana's women-focused programs, like the Telangana State Rural Livelihoods Mission, offer grants and skills training, empowering rural women to enter the industry. Challenges amid growth Despite its vibrancy, there are challenges like when clients undervalue services, offering as little as ₹1,500 for premium work requiring costly products and travel. Safa Khan, mentions late payment . 'Clients call us 'parlour walis', but this is art,' she says. Social biases and the need to constantly learn trends pose a challenge. Yet, the women-only field breaks barriers, offering a lifeline to those once pushed toward early marriage. Social media amplifies these artistes' reach, earning them awards like social media icon honours and empowerment recognitions at local events. These platforms spotlight their creativity, inspiring more Muslim girls to build online presences and pursue bold dreams. Workshops by mentors like Ms. Fathima further empower girls, teaching them to wield brushes as tools of change. As Hyderabad's weddings dazzle with Nizami splendor, artists like Saara, Safa, and Meena craft legacies of beauty and empowerment, proving every design is a step toward a bolder tomorrow. (The writer is intern at The Hindu, Hyderabad)
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
I gave up my career at 55 to move to a cabin in Finland with my best friend. I get why locals are so happy — now I am, too.
At 55, Sue Loraine took a sabbatical from her job in the UK to move to Finland with her best friend. They stay in her friend's parent's cabin in Finland and are living off of Loraine's savings. She loves the local culture and nature and hopes to inspire others who want to make a big change. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sue Loraine, a 58-year-old UK citizen in Finland. It's been edited for length and clarity. After decades in a range of different careers, followed by many years as a therapist, I felt burned out at work and ready for change. The idea for my next move came when I least expected it to: while watching a wilderness documentary on TV with my best friend and roommate, Saara. Suddenly, she turned to me and semi-jokingly suggested that we try living in Finland for a year. For Saara, Finland was home. She'd grown up there but moved away at age 12. As we began seriously considering this plan, her parents said they'd allow us to stay in the isolated cabin they owned there for free. This would make our year in Finland feasible since we wouldn't pay for accommodation, and I could rent out my apartment to cover my mortgage. Five months later, at age 55, I took a sabbatical, and we left Glasglow, Scotland, to spend a year in the "happiest country in the world" — a place I'd never visited before. It didn't take long for me to embrace living in the Finnish wilderness. Good thing since the cabin is quite isolated in 4 acres of forestland just over 200 miles north of Helsinki. The neighboring cabin is over a mile from us, and the closest supermarket is 40 minutes away by car. Our neighbors are the resident beaver who frequents our lake in the summer and the wolf who traverses the forest in the winter. Some might view the isolation and lack of amenities as boring, but I appreciate the silence of the forest. By my third month in Finland, I knew I was meant to be here and that I wanted to turn our yearlong visit into a full-time reality. To do so, we returned to Scotland for one year. I saved as much money as I could, sold my apartment, and applied for a Finnish residency permit. My roommate and I now live off those savings, and I estimate we spend roughly 800 to 1,000 euros a month. Having Saara by my side helped me navigate the culture shock of moving to a new country. If I didn't have her, I would've probably played things safe and lived in a bigger city first rather than the wilderness. However, I think that being surrounded by nature is what cured my burnout, which took a good seven to eight months for me to start to recover from. In the winter, I get my thrills from ice fishing or jumping out of our sauna into the icy lake and back. In the summer, I swim in the lake and forage for wild berries. I like that every day at the cabin brings a new challenge. I've learned many skills, like sourcing firewood for winter by chopping down trees and fending off venomous snakes in the summer. I now believe the easy access to forestlands (they make up about 70% of the country) and strong local connection to nature plays a significant role in why Finland continues to top the list of happiest countries in the World Happiness Report. Never being far from a forest gives the Finns the ability to frequently lose themselves in nature, reconnect, and reset. Each day, I continue to be surprised by how much Finland fits me. Many people here are incredibly kind and helpful. They live in the moment and aren't trying to keep up with the Joneses — it's refreshing. I also haven't gotten tired of being surrounded by nature. Really, I find it remarkable how quickly I've fallen in love with a country I'd never been to before. I would have never known this love and belonging if I hadn't just taken a risk and moved there. My advice to others who want to make a big change is to take it day by day. If you end up unhappy or it wasn't what you expected, you can always try something different. Read the original article on Business Insider
