Salaam.
At HARKATBARKAT (meaning “movement is blessing”), it is our vision to help Pakistanis working in the modern, artisanal, ecological economy to launch or accelerate their small businesses and careers by obtaining the TOOLS, SUPPLIES and GEAR that they need in order to both look the part while meeting safe labor work requirements, and get the job done well by bring resourceful and well-equipped.
We are positioning our products and our niche in contrast to the sedentary, desk-bound, thinking-heavy professions and economy (which have their own place, no doubt! Perhaps our next store will serve them! In style!), and instead support and elevate the millions of people of Pakistan who are transitioning to become skilled workers, artisans, crafters and even hobbyists who are just launching their careers and following passions.
Our client is an educated, possibly urban (or exposed to urban environments) person who is, instead of waiting to be given a job and that too in a sedentary career, is launching a small, community-focused and local business that will help them fulfil their passion or obligation as they become an active part of the emerging economy where many micro-businesses are launched every day. We are focusing on people who learn their way to a craft or skill through training, certification or DIY learning, as opposed to people who are handed down knowledge through traditional means which may or may not have fallen into disrepair. We are also favoring entrepreneurs who are opening own, small family, or collaborative businesses in what is said to be the new economy and also, ecological economy.
We favor artisanal and even spiritual craft work over labor exploitation and planet-harming, community- or people-exploiting activities and economy. We are focusing on care and creativity, connection, compassion.
We are imagining people such as bakers, potters, tailors, gardeners, plumbers, carpenters and other “blue collar” and “pink collar” professions. In our way of seeing, these are the workers that build the economy, and must be protected, honored, elevated and celebrated.
Harkat Barkat’s larger vision is to stimulate the economy of Pakistan while honoring the dreams, passion and skills of individual workers, and keeping in mind that at the end of the day the business has to make money, create value, and serve their community. While at first we will source our products from the nearest foreign sources in order to reach proof of concept stages, and run a model store, we envision to finally source our product from Pakistan only, getting local craftspeople to design the wares. This will in turn become an ecosphere that is based on the principles of a circular economy.
Intrigued? Bookmark the website and watch us grow. We will soon be opening to collaborations and to connecting the partners and providers.
— Harkat Barkat
Harkat Barkat is the brainchild of visionary and designer Ramala Hubb’Allah, a Pakistani climate leader, writer, thinker, unschooler, thought leader currently residing in the Pakistani Himalayas with her child, artist Sofia. This is part of the umbrella project and global vision of ushering in the era of an eco-feminine way of life.
@ 2024