Arabic fashion designer dispels myths about women entrepreneurship

Bengaluru: Wearing an ankle-length black overcoat and a stylish cap that covered her head like a ‘hijab’, Sara Al Madani, the active board member of UAE SME and enterprise council, dispelled the myths about women entrepreneurship, talking exclusively to DC on the sidelines of World Startup Expo 2016 in the city.

“I only wear dresses that are designed by me,” says Ms Madani with a sense of joy in her tone. She was just 15 when she embarked on her own entrepreneurial journey. Since then she has been inspiring Emirati women to start their own ventures.

“When I became a designer, my mission was to make the Arabic women feel that they are part of the fashion industry, with their traditional wear. And today, I feel like I have accomplished that by empowering women with their clothes and making them feel more confident,” says the 30-year-old.  

Being a single mother – the fact that she proudly admits – never stopped her from setting up her own design brand and a restaurant. “In fact, I was carrying my son in my hand when I was once delivering the speech in an event,” she recalls.

Family responsibilities or motherhood, according to Ms Madani, should not become an uphill battle for women entrepreneurs. “The families should inspire women to achieve more. There is no rulebook that says women must sacrifice their career for the sake of their children and families,” she says.   

Her extensive experience in entrepreneurship has helped the Arabic fashion designer to teach other women about failures and how to avoid them. “When I started my business, I didn’t take care of the legal paper work that needs to be done while entering into partnership contract with someone. I lost my company because of that and started it from the scratch once again,” she recollects.

However, this bitter experience helped her realise that she can run her business without a partner. She also uses social media platforms to educate women. “Social media is a window to the world. Through those platforms, I show everybody that I am a mother yet handle my business and work with the government. I multi-task and show that everything is possible,” she says.  

Changing the mindset of the world about Emirati women, she says that women in her country are more powerful, with women being assigned as ministers and CEOs. “To make sure we have such balance, His Highness has appointed a woman as the chief happiness officer. When the ruler lets woman to make sure that the country is happy, it means that the happiness of everything and everyone lies within a woman and she is the source of happiness,” she adds.