Imphal: “Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart, give yourself to it,” says spiritual leader Gautama Buddha. It is easy to say follow your dreams but not everyone is able to follow it. In today’s scenario, let us meet a young journalism student-turned-entrepreneur from Manipur.
Women entrepreneurs are succeeding tremendously in the North-East region, occupying a central role in all economic activities and development of the region. One such young self-sustained entrepreneur is Huidrom Sushila Devi from Manipur who is a journalism student.
“I was working with online media as an associate editor. But I felt bored sitting the whole day working 24×7. So I thought this is not my thing… I decided that I should do something productive and creative,” said Devi.
A fashion lover and also a designer, Devi began her business venture after her post-graduation when her college friends appreciated her embroidered handwork sari she wore on her convocation day.
Her passion for entrepreneurship grew when she saw beautiful handiworks during Sangai Festival, an annual cultural festival conducted every year by the Manipur tourism department. Eventually, her first exposure to this festival came in 2015.
“I talked to my partner and we decided to do something. Suddenly emoji came in my mind. In Manipur, no one manufactures emoji. So (we) thought of creating emoji,” Devi said.
Defying odds, Devi founded her brand Suss Design ‘A woman’s Miracles’ in Imphal East. Though a start-up, she said she began her firm to provide more employment for the jobless and destitute women of the state.
Whether we love them or hate them, emojis have crawled into today’s culture and our way of communicating.
Devi makes around 20-25 emojis including bright yellow smiley pillows, winky soft smiley, happy round emojis bags, key chains, and other products. The demand for these products are high and are fashionable items suited for both young and old.
Fibre clothes, fabrics and shinny decorative items and satins are used to create these colourful emojis. Devi now aims to become a self-employed woman and her long-cherished dream is to impart training on local handicrafts to several women and empowering them financially.
“I have always loved fashion. I used to do modelling and make new designs and dresses. I have seen my father creating new things and inventing new things. So I love the way he lived,” the young woman said.
This is another example of a young entrepreneur who believes that one should experience and follow one’s passion.