Shyama Goohee : the crochet queen

Holder of a degree in Business Management, young lady Shyama Goohee started her small business in crochet, a field that is now gaining momentum. She has revived this art by turning her passion into a business.

The art of crochet has been in existence for a long time. But it almost went into oblivion, as the younger generation did not show much interest. Recently, however, a few young ladies have started reviving this art through more innovative means. Shyama is one those ladies who has given crochet a new dimension.

She has started doing crochet as a business. She states that earlier, she used crocheting as a hobby. “In fact, it did not start as a business idea. Once, during my free time, I remembered my mother’s designs and how she used to do crochet. She made us participate in her work, sometimes against our will. I had some yarn at home and I tried to create something. With this trial, I made my first scarf.

After this successful attempt, I developed a passion for it, and started to make more scarves, which I shared on social media. To my amazement, people were showing interest and this is how my passion took a new dimension,” she reveals.

For her, crochet is not simply a handicraft using yarn to make textured fabric. “Crochet in itself covers a wide spectrum of products and every day, there is constant innovation in this art. Since nearly a year now, I have turned my passion into a business.”

Specialty

Her main target is interior decoration, personalized products for babies as well as elders. All the products are handmade. “All my clients can contact me directly. They can illustrate what they want. Besides just being a business, it is also a passion that I am living, and I think, this is what makes the whole difference.  Since nearly a year, I have made designs with yarns, such as pet baskets, ‘poufs’, infinity scarves, rugs, baby blankets and my latest, pillows,” she says.

When asked what pushed her towards entrepreneurship, she replies, “Life is too short for a person to live some else’s dream. With crochet, I realized that I have much to offer to society and not working towards my dream will be a sheer waste of talent.”

Our young lady has faced many challenges all along her journey. At every step, there have been challenges and in a certain way, this is the fun part and this is what provokes growth and makes life worthwhile. From customers returning, not willing to pay due to unavailability of raw materials and up to sleepless nights and soared forearms, I must say there are some difficulties as each level.”

She also recalls how she has contacted authorities for help, as she wanted to secure some funding to bring some yarns, so as to make products that are available in Europe only and put them at the disposal of our people but unfortunately, because crochet is not reputed in Mauritius, meetings have not been fruitful.

Despite all the hurdles, the number of clients has considerably increased during recent months. She avers that people are being very conscious concerning their home decors and are willing to invest in it. All her clients have been satisfied with her services. She keeps on innovating her products.

“I study a lot about the latest trends in Europe and how people look elegant or bring elegance in their home simply by adding one or two crochet products. I make products that may be adapted to our environment, based on our sense of fashion and our seasons.”

What’s next?

Currently, she is concentrating much on ‘poufs’ (tuffets), which are very trendy but for the upcoming winter, she is preparing a new and innovative product, which she does not want to reveal at this stage.