Women work at sewing machines inside the “Umm Maryam” workshop in central Hit. The tailoring business, run by a former displaced Iraqi woman, offers affordable custom-made clothing and trains local women. Photo by 964media
Anbar
Displaced by war, seamstress builds thriving tailoring business in Hit
ANBAR — Yusra, known locally as Umm Maryam, has turned a lifelong passion for sewing into a growing tailoring business in the heart of Hit, years after being displaced by conflict.
What began as a skill she learned from her mother evolved into a profession she refined while living in Turkey, where her family sought refuge in 2014.
“I have loved sewing since childhood. I learned it from my mother, and my passion grew stronger with age,” she told 964media. “The turning point was in Turkey after we were displaced. I spent a year there and took sewing courses, learning new techniques and modern designs.”
The rise of the Islamic State group in 2014 forced nearly six million Iraqis — about 15% of the population — to flee their homes. As of April 2023, the International Organization for Migration reported more than 4.8 million Iraqis had returned to their areas of origin, while over one million remained internally displaced.
After returning to Iraq, Umm Maryam opened a small shop in Baghdad that eventually expanded into a workshop. But her heart remained in her hometown. Earlier this year, she moved back to Hit and launched a new workshop in the city center bearing her name.
“The response has been excellent,” she said. “Women here welcomed the idea. They told me they prefer speaking directly with a seamstress rather than sending clothes through their husbands.”
Her shop now employs two women and offers custom tailoring services at prices well below the market rate.
“A dishdasha costs about 5,000 dinars ($3.38), a dress 20,000 ($13.51) — compared to 45,000 ($30.38) in the market,” she said. “We can sew anything the customer wants, even if she just brings a photo.”
One of her most popular offerings is matching mother-daughter outfits. “We sew identical pieces using the same fabric, colors and style — that’s what people ask for most these days,” she said.
Looking ahead, Umm Maryam hopes to grow the business and pass her skills on to the next generation. “After the Eid holiday, I plan to launch sewing courses for women,” she said. “I advise every seamstress to improve her work, empower herself and continue in this field. I’m willing to work day and night because I love what I do.”
