Craft bazaar in Anah offers women visibility and income amid calls for permanent market

ANBAR — Women and youth from Iraq’s remote western towns gathered in Anah over the weekend for “Echo of Creativity,” a community-led craft bazaar that spotlighted handmade goods and small-scale enterprises. The event, held at Yarmouk Park, was backed by Anbar Gov. Mohammed Nouri.

Organized by the Western Talents and Creators Collective, the fair featured embroidery, tailoring, cake-making, glass painting, writing, accessories, books, and locally made food and drink. Many participants described it as a rare opportunity to gain public visibility and commercial exposure — especially for women working from home or outside formal employment.

“This event is charitable and includes several crafts like sewing, embroidery, pastries, and other handmade work,” said Sufyan Al-Ani, coordinator of the collective. “We’ve been running these bazaars across Anbar for six years. The goal is to support traditional crafts like weaving, embroidery, and painting, which are developing in our area. If you have a talent, don’t ignore it — start small and grow, even if people criticize you.”

Khadija Hashem, director of the governor’s office in Anah, praised the turnout and range of items on display. “There was embroidery, sewing, glass art, accessories, and even face painting and food stalls,” she said. “Many women in our society have no jobs or income. These bazaars give them the chance to market their work and benefit from it financially.”

One of those women, Nahla Fakhri, thanked the organizers for providing consistent support. “The Western Talents and Creators team always supports local talent,” she said. “It’s crucial support for women. I encourage every woman to participate, whether in clothing, desserts, or any other field.”

Participant Mohammed Ma’moun also praised the public engagement but called for longer-term solutions. “I joined the Echo of Creativity bazaar and saw strong public interest,” he said. “But we need continued support from local authorities. I hope these bazaars can happen monthly, not just once or twice a year. We propose a permanent market in Anah, Rawa, or Haditha.”

Among the exhibitors was Um Aqil, who launched a sewing business during the COVID-19 pandemic and now runs a Facebook page called Taranim Tailoring, which has attracted more than 9,400 followers.

“After the pandemic, I started joining bazaars with help from the Western Talents and Creators team and some NGOs,” she said. “I hope to open a full-scale workshop that can employ women, especially those supporting families or orphaned children.”

She said her biggest challenges are tied to demand and overhead costs. “Some stores won’t accept local handmade goods and prefer imports. I currently work from home and can’t afford to rent a space due to electricity and generator costs,” she said. “We need marketing support and full workshop funding — supplies, staff wages, and rent.”

Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Don’t give up. Keep going until you build a better future. I’m a school principal and still sew because I see students and mothers who need these items. That motivates me to continue and do better.”