Today's Edition
AYSHA SHAAYA (ABU DHABI)
Crochet is making a comeback in the UAE, with young Emirati creatives weaving the traditional craft into thriving business ventures. Once considered a quiet pastime reserved for grandmothers, crochet has found new life in contemporary fashion amid the growing appeal of DIY culture and slow fashion.
Alya Alzaabi, a 21-year-old Emirati business owner, started learning crochet three years ago and got hooked into the craft.
“I wanted to give my friend a meaningful gift, so I crocheted a cardigan for her. I started with a small kit I bought online, and from there I learned new things to crochet like headbands,” Alya said. “The beauty of crochet comes from the fact that it is 100% handmade, and can never be replicated by machine, unlike knitting. This means whoever owns a crocheted item has a unique, one-of-a-kind piece.”
Alya’s hobby soon turned into a business, thanks to the support of her family, relatives, and friends, who became her first buyers.
“Many family members were impressed by my work; they really appreciated a handmade item. From there, I launched my own business brand and started my social media account.”
“People were initially surprised to know that I was the owner of the business. Many would ask me if the products were made by my mother or grandmother,” Alya added.
Inspired by the emerging opportunity, she and her partner Amal Abu Layla are now thinking of ways to reinvent their products in a way that will reflect the culture of the UAE.
“When the crochet trend started a few years ago, most of the products on social media seemed to reflect the Western culture. So I started to brainstorm ideas that are suitable to our generation and most importantly, our culture.”
Amal, co-owner of the business, said many have admired their creative strategy.
“The feedback has been positive and people are very appreciative of what we do. We are very grateful to all our customers for their appreciation and also their curiosity. Many of them would ask questions about the process of crocheting whenever they buy from us,” Amal said.
Power of Social Media
The rise in demand for crocheted items was fuelled by social media, Alya said.
“What helped expand the business was the ongoing trend of crochet on social media. It was not a passing phase, but an idea that stayed around and continued to grow,” she said.
“It also motivated us to take on new challenges. Thanks to its power, we managed to participate in my first pop-up and reach a new audience.”
A Sustainable Craft
Beyond creativity, crochet is a sustainable craft. It promotes slow fashion and the mindful production of durable, long-lasting items by hand.
Maryam Alzaabi, another young crochet artist, shared how crochet can be an eco-friendly craft and contribute to environmental conservation.
“It is important to choose the type of yarn used in a crochet project wisely. I try to choose fibres that could withstand multiple wears, heat, and washing. For example, recycled cotton blend would be perfect because cotton itself is a natural fibre and reduces waste,” she said.
“At the end of the day, crochet is there to teach us young generations the art of patience, that beautiful things will come into fruition when trusting the process. It’s about the journey not the destination,” Maryam added.
