For retired engineer Gulala Abdullah Muhammad, retirement was far from a closing chapter; it was the spark for a brand-new dream born inside a small room in her home. Partnering with five women from her family, she launched a home-based enterprise dedicated to recycling leftover fabric scraps into rugs, home furnishings, and handmade goods—a initiative merging environmental protection, traditional craftsmanship preservation, and sustainable income generation for women.
Operating in Sulaymaniyah, Gulala Abdullah Muhammad and her five female family members collect daily discarded fabric remnants—materials typically thrown away by tailors after garment stitching. Between their skilled hands, these discarded pieces are transformed into products that unite artistic beauty with economic value.
From Waste to Beauty: The Birth of Lalas Design
Sharing the origin story of her brand, Lalas Design, Gulala reflects:
“It all started with a simple idea. I used to watch tailors throw away huge quantities of fabric scraps, and I asked myself: Why should this turn into waste when it could become something useful? That question was where my journey began.”
Gulala firmly believes that reusing household waste contributes directly to environmental protection while unlocking fresh avenues for income generation. Today, her vision extends beyond crafting carpets and handmade items; through her showcase, she aims to establish a dedicated small workshop for textile recycling to manufacture rugs and home decor from reclaimed fabric.
The success of Gulala’s venture serves a dual purpose: mitigating waste challenges while opening up new job opportunities for women. At a time when the world actively seeks solutions for waste management and ecological preservation, her story proves that meaningful change does not always originate in massive factories—it can start in a home room, driven by a woman who believes in her dream.
Building a Sustainable Venture from Home
Detailing her initial steps, Gulala explained that following her retirement, she returned to a long-held passion for rug making inside her home alongside five female family members. Together, they turned carpet weaving from fabric remnants into a structured home business.
“I have been working on the idea of carpet making for over three years,” she states. “After my retirement, I chose not to stay idle. Instead, I collaborated with colleagues to recycle surplus textiles, designing various models of rugs and home furnishings.”
The group gathers the necessary materials and tools in the basement of Gulala’s home, where they create handcrafted rugs and products. Over time, their efforts culminated in opening an exhibition to display their creations.
Overcoming Challenges Through Persistence
Establishing a physical platform required significant perseverance. Gulala noted that despite making extensive efforts, numerous entities declined to provide support, until they successfully secured a space through the Cultural Center in Sulaymaniyah.
“I presented my work to many people in hopes of holding an exhibition or expanding my project, but I did not receive adequate support,” Gulala shares. “Ultimately, I reached out to the Cultural Center, which extended their assistance to us.”
She highlighted that her craftsmanship goes beyond fabric rug making to encompass mosaic art on glass, vessels, and cups:
“I also incorporate beads and bells into the designs. Whenever a pattern or motif catches my eye, I photograph it and recreate it in my own distinct way. I have a deep passion for my work, which allows me to execute any design I set my mind to.”
Returning to her lifelong passion post-retirement proved that ambition knows no timeline:
“When a person has a clear goal, they can achieve it. Due to my dual responsibilities as a mother and an employee, I was unable to start earlier. However, after retiring, I dedicated my time entirely to this work, and today I wish to develop it even further.”
She concluded by noting that many women manage small projects from home and possess the potential to scale them through continuous effort and determination, expressing her hope that women everywhere feel empowered to pursue their goals at any stage of life.
