15/12/2020
Philosophy:
The value of handmade things is priceless. This is what my mom would say as she would give the final touches to a silk painting every few months.
Back then, I did not know that thousands of miles away, almost the same thing be taking place - but in mud houses in vast stretches of rural lands - with women and men bent over their handicrafts, holding a thread and needle as they would weave away, perspiring for endless hours to create the final product, which would then be sold by RANG.
Growing up in a developing country, where a profession in art is still waiting to be considered a norm, I have always wanted to find a way to value such home-based artists for their contribution to the cottage industry of Pakistan. Making up 30% of the total exports of my country, this undervalued sector is yet to be celebrated by our Western friends. So, when my mom came to Germany to visit, and persuaded me to start a business with her in such a sector, I got to thinking.
Through the support of my husband and my family, I went on to create RANG’s business model. RANG would be buying Pakistan’s exquisite and renowned traditional (cottage) handicrafts from these poor and needy craftsmen/women and selling them online to the Western world. At the same time, it would be promising it's socially conscious customers an opportunity to do social good.
Today, we have fed two birds with one scone. We combined our for-profit business model with a charitable ingredient. A few years from now, RANG would have powered off as a social impact venture: helping the destitute financially whilst filling its piggybank to keep its SOCIAL IMPACT sustainable.
Let’s spread colours and joy everywhere.
