Seagrass from southern Bangladesh accessorising homes in Europe
Farhana Hakim, once an employee of a private company, embarked on her journey as an exporter of non-traditional items like baskets and showpieces banking on mere seagrasses (locally known as hogla) and date palm leaves.
She exported products made of seagrasses and date palm leaves worth more than $20,000 to European countries in 2018-19, a jump from $5,000 in the previous year, which is a clear demonstration how popular these items could be among foreign buyers.
She hit upon the idea of exporting non-traditional items during her student life when she came to know that foreigners are very fond of such products.
Farhana brings processed seagrasses from the southern part of Bangladesh and provides those to the artisans in Gazipur who make the products.
She also exports coffins made of seagrasses to the US market.
"There is a huge demand for eco-friendly products in the Western countries. I think the demand will rise further in the coming days," said the mother of twins.
Farhana established her handicrafts company Twin Trims in 2013 when she got an order worth $2,000 for handmade gift cards from a UK-based business house named One Village.
In 2014, she exported laptop bags made of jute to Canada.
"People think our jute has lost its glory. But I don't think so. I saw a huge demand for products made of jute or seagrass," she said.
Twin Trims got a shot in the arm in 2015 when it received a big export order from a German buyer for shopping bags made of jute and seagrass.
Farhana graduated from Jahangirnagar University and worked for YKK Zippers for ten years to gather a handsome capital to start her own venture as she had an indomitable urge to become an entrepreneur. When she left the job her monthly salary was more than Tk 2 lakh.
Along with non-traditional items, now she is exporting jute and jute products and leather goods.
German automobile giant BMW is on her client list: they buy jute from her for car interior.
She also exports footwear to Bata, Italy and other leather products to brands like Orora and Tommy Hilfiger.
Farhana said she drew buyers' attention by participating in many international fairs abroad and through the internet.
"Now Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria and many other countries want to know about my products as Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba promotes my products because of their high quality," she said.
Her total exporting earnings ran into around $50,000 in 2017-18 which more than doubled in the following year.
"And exports are poised to rise at a higher rate in the current financial year," she added.
Her company has created employment for more than 2,000 people, mostly women, who work from home.