Srinagar, Feb 4: In a bold departure from societal expectations, 24-year-old Nazar Nasir, hailing from Lal Bazar, has embraced his passion for crochet, knitting, and macramé, turning it into a full-time profession.
Nazar, who holds an honours degree in English literature, gave up on his master’s degree to pursue his love for crafting.
Nazar’s journey started in 2016 when he stumbled upon the craft by chance. Since then, Nazar has honed his skills and turned his passion into a successful career.
Nazar’s fascination with crochet, knitting, and macramé began in 2016 when he stumbled upon the craft while Kashmir was under a strict lockdown. Initially, he experimented with basic stitches and was immediately hooked.
Nazar only fully learned the craft through the internet, allowing him to research and discover the vast potential of fibre art. He has since mastered various fibre crafts and continues to explore his creative endeavours.
His passion soon turned into a small business, Knotty Crafts, after he started sharing his work on social media and received a flood of orders.
Nazar has plans to use his craft to address societal issues in his community. He aims to introduce crocheting and knitting to children as a means to expand their creativity and reduce their dependence on digital devices.
Additionally, Nazar hopes to create employment opportunities for skilled individuals in Kashmir, one of India’s most unemployed states.
Nazar believes that providing new platforms and exposure to new opportunities will enhance creativity and reduce mental health issues such as anxiety and stress. Nazar, who was diagnosed with PSVT in 2013, has personally experienced the healing effects of knitting and crocheting on mental and physical health. He plans to conduct workshops in schools and raise awareness of the benefits of these crafts in his community.
Nazar expressed his desire to host workshops on knitting and crocheting for people of all ages, citing the mental health benefits of these crafts. He believes that they can be therapeutic and used as a creative outlet for negative energy, and does not necessarily have to be a source of income.
Nazar also wants to combat stereotypes surrounding fibre crafts, which have been viewed as a feminine and elderly pursuit. To do so, he plans to organise awareness programmes, events, and workshops that promote gender-inclusivity in the arts and crafts field.
Nazar hopes to encourage individuals to pursue these activities as hobbies or careers with a strong passion and a sense of responsibility towards addressing real-world issues.