Since taking her first crocheting and knitting class at the German School in Cairo, Hala Ashour dreamed of turning her passion for handicrafts into a business. In 2009, she founded Handmade, a craft center and yarn shop. Starting with just three young women producing knitting and crocheting samples, she carved out a niche for Handmade in the market of crocheted home and personal accessories.

Today, Handmade employs numerous women and distributes products to shops in Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, El Gouna, and Saudi Arabia. Ashour’s products have been showcased in fairs across Egypt, Dubai, and Paris. In 2019, she was appointed as the Deputy of EECH (Egyptian Export Council for Handicrafts).

One of her greatest joys in running Handmade has been the opportunity to train and empower women in knitting, crocheting, and sewing, helping them become self-reliant and productive members of society. Over the years, she has trained individuals from the Banati Foundation, Sudanese refugees, widows, and women with physical disabilities. Despite the challenge of high turnover, Hala remains dedicated to providing opportunities for these women to earn an income and improve their lives. Looking ahead, Hala is eager to develop new markets for Egyptian products.