At the heart of this venture is Parida Dino Benjamin, whose husband passed away unexpectedly in February 2020 from a heart attack. The youngest of their five children – a baby girl – was less than two months old at the time, while their oldest was only 11.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, she shared that the heartbreak of this situation was exacerbated when the pandemic hit a month later.
She felt isolated from the travel restrictions and lockdowns as her family lives in Sabah. Parida was left to care for her children on her own, and deal with her grief in solitude. After being married for 12 years, her husband’s absence left her deeply saddened.
“I had never worked, and I wondered how to support my family,” said the 37-year-old, who lives in Klang.
Job opportunities were scarce during the pandemic. Furthermore, her caregiving responsibilities limited her ability to seek full-time employment.
Thankfully, financial aid from Lembaga Zakat Selangor and the Social Welfare Department kept the family financially afloat.
Despite the aid, Parida wished to stand on her own two feet. Having loved sewing since a young girl, she was thrilled when a friend helped secure her a job as a tailor at a madrasah where she could bring her children along.
Sewing became Parida’s lifeline and as she meticulously tailored prayer garments and head scarves, she felt a spark of purpose to her life.
To further hone her skills, she enrolled in classes organised by Teraju Ekonomi Asnaf and Suri Lifestyle. There, her natural talent shone when she quickly mastered what she was taught.
Sewing gave her the confidence to start “Handmade with Love by SF” in early 2023. “SF” stands for “sahabat fillah,” or sincere friends, and pays tribute to those who supported her during her bleakest moments.
She started with bags and keychains and sold them to her friends. Although she knew that a social media presence would help widen her reach, she doubted if her handicrafts were good enough to be introduced online.
But things improved after she enrolled in the Khadijah Artisans Mentoring Program.
A collaboration between Khadijah International Waqf (L) Foundation (KIWF) and Persatuan Pembangunan Artisans (PPA), the programme provides women artisans from the low-income category with the guidance they need to succeed. They also offer support to increase the distribution channels for their products.
The programme has proven to be immensely beneficial for Parida. She has learned to better manage her business’ finances and set an optimal price for her products, taking into account her material and labour costs.
Her products, she shared excitedly, are now available for purchase at PPA’s outlet in Berjaya Times Square.
When representatives from KIWF delivered talks at the Contemporary Discussions on Philanthropy Symposium in Istanbul last October, they presented her embroidered keychains as gifts to the guests, something that absolutely delighted Parida.
The programme, she added, has boosted her confidence and she has since expanded her product range to include pouches and tissue holders made from pre-loved jeans and hoop art.
As 3% of their sales are channelled as waqf contributions to KIWF, Parida shared that she is grateful for the opportunity to give back to society.
Seeing her business grow has made Parida hopeful about the future. Next, she plans to increase her product range and establish her brand overseas. “Today, I am receiving zakat, but someday, I hope to pay zakat,” she said.
“I’m very grateful to the Khadijah Artisans Mentoring Program as it has given me a platform to explore my talents and improve my life.”
To learn more about the products by ‘Handmade with Love by SF,’ contact Parida at 010-937 1187 or follow them on Instagram.