I was born in the bustling city of Karachi, Pakistan. I spent my childhood years in Karachi and Saudi Arabia, and then immigrated to the Los Angeles suburbia with my family. Hoping to honor my father’s wishes to see me become a doctor, I pursued biology as an undergrad at California State University, Pomona. But then, I took a detour when I discovered a love for storytelling while working for my college newspaper. I subsequently completed a graduate degree in journalism from U.C. Berkeley.
Over the past two decades, I’ve worked as a reporter, and then in public relations for nonprofits, startup entrepreneurs and small businesses. I’ve worked for an advocacy organization (CAIR-Los Angeles), where I helped amplify the dynamic voices of American Muslims, and led PR stints for social impact groups. I also supported Vari’s (a Dallas company that creates flexible office spaces) PR team and am now working with two wonderful organizations: a woman-founded startup that helps families preserve their life stories, and a foundation that advocates for humanistic care.
In 2020, as the world went into lockdown, I set out on a new venture: economically empower Pakistani women artisans and bring their beautiful handicrafts to the U.S. market.
Thus, Chic & Gold was born — an embodiment of my roots, faith and American identity, and a culmination of a desire to start a clothing and accessories label, while making “Shared Success” possible.
Over the past year, I’ve aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the artisan communities across Pakistan — a large majority of whom are women, living in rural areas, and well below the poverty line — and created a network of artisan partners whom I am collaborating with for C&G accessories.
I am excited and moved by the support of those around me, and can’t wait to see what we - with our very small Dallas team, our artisans partners, our customers and our supporters - can accomplish together.
Would you like to follow us on our journey, and see how we’re working on our 2024 accessories and creating opportunities for artisans? Then sign up for our newsletter here.
Over the past two decades, I’ve worked as a reporter, and then in public relations for nonprofits, startup entrepreneurs and small businesses. I’ve worked for an advocacy organization (CAIR-Los Angeles), where I helped amplify the dynamic voices of American Muslims, and led PR stints for social impact groups. I also supported Vari’s (a Dallas company that creates flexible office spaces) PR team and am now working with two wonderful organizations: a woman-founded startup that helps families preserve their life stories, and a foundation that advocates for humanistic care.
In 2020, as the world went into lockdown, I set out on a new venture: economically empower Pakistani women artisans and bring their beautiful handicrafts to the U.S. market.
Thus, Chic & Gold was born — an embodiment of my roots, faith and American identity, and a culmination of a desire to start a clothing and accessories label, while making “Shared Success” possible.
Over the past year, I’ve aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the artisan communities across Pakistan — a large majority of whom are women, living in rural areas, and well below the poverty line — and created a network of artisan partners whom I am collaborating with for C&G accessories.
I am excited and moved by the support of those around me, and can’t wait to see what we - with our very small Dallas team, our artisans partners, our customers and our supporters - can accomplish together.
Would you like to follow us on our journey, and see how we’re working on our 2024 accessories and creating opportunities for artisans? Then sign up for our newsletter here.
