- Two sisters breathe new life into their late grandfather’s leather business by transforming it into a vibrant online brand.
- It offers affordable, high-quality leather products in bold, modern colors—breaking market stereotypes.
- Despite challenges in a male-dominated industry, the sister duo is steadily growing toward global recognition.
In a heartwarming tale of legacy, passion, and empowerment, two sisters from Karachi have reimagined their late grandfather’s humble leather business into a thriving online brand that’s turning heads both locally and globally.
What started in 1975 as a small leather retail shop in Saddar by master craftsman Turab Ali Ismail Ji Munniwala, is now making a bold statement in Pakistan’s modern retail scene—thanks to Marium (32) and Sakina Hussain (25), granddaughters of the founder and co-founders of ‘Turab’, a brand named in his memory.
The transformation began in February 2022, when the sisters, both professionally established in their own right—a graphic designer and a corporate lawyer—decided to step in to support their aging father, Aqeel Hussain, who had taken over the family business in 1985. In a society where sons are traditionally expected to carry on family businesses, the sisters defied norms and took the reins with determination and vision.
Their brand, Turab, is not just preserving a legacy—it’s reinventing it. Offering a variety of leather products such as tote bags, crossbody bags, duffel bags, wallets, laptop sleeves, and travel organizers, the brand stands out for its minimalist designs and bold colors—a refreshing contrast to the conventional browns and blacks that dominate Pakistan’s leather market.
From design to branding, photography to packaging, the sisters run nearly every aspect of the business themselves. Marium handles branding and photography, often capturing Sakina modeling the bags in their home-based studio, which they fondly refer to as the “Turab Room”—once their grandfather’s bedroom.
Yet, the journey hasn’t been without hurdles. At exhibitions, they often face skepticism—especially from men who question their expertise. Today, Turab is fulfilling multiple orders daily, and their products have started reaching international customers in Dubai, Canada, and the USA. The sisters now dream of launching a flagship outlet and making Turab a household name—not just in Pakistan, but around the world.
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