Bringing Colour to Islamic Stationery
Growing up as a Gen Z Muslim in North America, I always struggled to find items that spoke to not just my love for my faith, but also my femininity. Nearly all Islamic products on the market over-used traditional imagery such as camels, mosques, and crescent moons that were not only a narrow and outdated representation of what Islam was, but also alienated many Muslim women looking to express their identity in more cute and feminine ways. There was no reason there couldn’t be more colourful, playful or vibrant Islamic stationery in the world - and it wasn’t until I graduated as a graphic designer did I realize that *I* could be the one to help bring these to life.
Launching ColourSoul was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life. None of my training at OCAD University prepared me for the unique challenges and imposter syndrome associated with developing my own artistic identity. Finding the right balance of “soulful yet colourful” in my faith-inspired designs took many iterations - with each making me doubt if I was really talented enough to bring these products to market. And just as difficult, learning all the nuances of running a business - from supply chain, to inventory management, to financial accounting, to social media marketing, to even the colour printing process my suppliers used - lead to many stressful (and often tearful) nights.
But the payoff was so worth it! Within a few weeks on Etsy, I had already sold over 100 stickers, my first product, which gave me tons of validation to keep pushing forward and launching new ones. And it wasn’t until I launched my very first Eid Card collection during the Ramadan of 2020 did one of my TikToks go viral and I sold more bundles of cards than my mom and I could even pack! It was so heart-warming and motivating for me to see the outpour of love, support, and positivity I received from my customers who were using my products to uniquely express their Muslim identity!
Ultimately, starting ColourSoul forced me to step far outside my comfort zone - both inside Adobe Illustrator and out. But it has also been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. For me, running this business has always been about finding ways to connect Muslim women with their faith through my products, and knowing that others truly feel that connection is an incredible feeling. Etsy has been an amazing platform for helping me connect with nearly 1,000 like-minded customers across the globe. And I’m looking forward to connecting with the next 1,000!
