Meet Shireen Aburahma | Small Business Owner & Digital Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shireen Aburahma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shireen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always wanted to start my own business. That has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid. I’ve also had a huge love for art. However, I never considered putting these things together until the covid lockdown, when I thought, “why not run a business where I can draw designs and create handmade things to sell?” But at the same time, I wanted to do something unique and spread a message. So I decided to design and make products inspired by the cultures of the Middle East (or South West Asia), North Africa, and South Asia. As a minority, I wanted to do something where people like me feel seen, represented, and proud of their culture and heritage. That is when I started my small business, Watan Designs, in November of 2o2o. Watan means “homeland” in multiple languages, including Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, and Hindi.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Watan Designs, is all about reminding people of their roots, culture, and heritage. These are things that make up an individual’s identity, and I believe that these things need to be celebrated and appreciated. I think what sets me apart from others is that my designs are unique. I am an Arab from Palestine, so a lot of my inspiration comes from my own culture. However, my experiences with different people and cultures also inspire me to design and create products. It has almost been two years since I started my business, and it has been an amazing journey. I recently reached 600 sales on Etsy, and I am proud of this accomplishment. I celebrate all the milestones, even the small ones because running a small business alone isn’t always easy. I draw all my designs and make everything by hand. I also package orders and create content for social media. Even though it can get overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t have it any other way because I am doing what I love. I learned so many lessons but the most important ones are to have patience and trust the process. I constantly remind myself of my business’s primary goal: to sell products that make people feel connected to their homeland and culture and, most of all, represented. I hope to expand my business in the future and make a bigger impact.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting the area, I would take them to one of my favorite spots, the Harbor at Rockwall, to watch the sunset. I would also love to take them to the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) to see all the beautiful artworks from different cultures and time periods. I think there are so many places and things to do here depending on one’s interests. Personally, I like to check out the different mosques in the DFW area. My favorites are the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and the Valley Ranch Islamic Center (VRIC). As far as restaurants, there are so many options, especially for those who eat halal. My favorites are Afrah, Doña Mary’s, and Noodle Wave. I definitely need to do some more exploring myself because I know Dallas has a lot of hidden gems.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to my family. I honestly don’t think I would be where I am today without them. My parents encouraged me to start my business and helped me buy a lot of my supplies at the beginning. My Dad gives me advice and constructive criticism on how I can improve. My siblings always give me ideas and promote my small business. One of my sisters, Raneem, actually nominated me for this interview because she wanted my business to get more exposure, which made me so happy. My other sister, Haneen, takes my product pictures and edits them for me, I know it can be tedious and challenging at times, but I am truly thankful for her. I would also like to give a shoutout to my friends who believe in me and constantly support me every step of the way. And of course, I can’t forget my amazing customers for supporting my small business and leaving me the kindest messages and reviews. They are the reason I keep doing what I love!

Website: https://linktr.ee/watandesigns

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watandesigns/