Muslimah Business Spotlight: My Islamic Life

Kristina ElSayed is the owner of My Islamic Life, an Etsy.com provider of handmade, one of a kind Islamic prayer garments and gifts. Kristina has been in business since January 2010, masha’Allah. She provides a variety of Islamic-inspired items including one piece pull on style hijabs with coordinating skirts and tote bags for girls of all ages, I also make one piece adult prayer outfits, two piece adult prayer outfits and hand stamped jewelry that is religiously themed.

Kristina ElSayed is not Muslim, however her husband is a practicing Muslim and her children are being raised as practicing Muslims.  “I am the mother of  [three] Muslim children [and] wife to an Egyptian Muslim,” Kristina explains. “I have been a SAHM (stay at home mom) for 11 years and have been sewing off and on just as long. When my girls started learning how to pray, I asked many women from the masjid and my husband’s family about getting hijabs for the girls to practice with and kept hitting brick walls. My mother and sister-in-law helped us track down little girl hijabs to buy, but it wasn’t an easily found item because most mothers just make them for their daughters. In countries and families where you grow up practicing Islam, it’s just something you know how to make.”

Kristina shared the incident that led to her home business venture: “I went to my [halaqa] on Friday night and was venting about this problem. A dear friend offered to bring me some outfits, trimmed in lace and ribbon. They were so dainty and girly and pristine that my ladies didn’t want to use them. They were afraid of ruining something so special.
I though, if I’m struggling so hard with this hurdle, I know I’m not the only one! I want to be supportive of my daughters and teach them the proper way to pray, but why is it so hard to find the support I need? I saw the need for prayer outfits for little girls who love colorful, fun, soft clothing.

Growing up Christian in America, I took for granted that I could find inspirational and devotional gifts and trinkets everywhere. In just about any store you go to, you could find some little something with a cross or Christian saying on it to remind yourself of your belief, or gift to someone who was having a bad day. I have started making Islamically themed jewelry to fill this void. I use English letters, and I stamp phrases and words on silver, brass and copper shapes, making necklaces and, Insha’Allah, bracelets. I have also been creating pendants, bracelets and earrings from Islamically and Middle Eastern themed clay beads.

In addition to sewing and crafting prayer outfits for little ladies, I make one and two piece prayer outfits for adults. I spoke to many women who were mending their one piece outfits in desperation because they could no longer buy them overseas. I take the time to make the outfit the way it should me made and in the fabric and colors specifically requested.”

Kristina provides her customers with custom work. She explains, “If you have a piece of fabric that you want made into an outfit, that’s no problem, I will shop for your fabric or you can ship it to me.  If you are a special size, I’m happy to customize my patterns to your measurements.  If you have an idea for a special piece of jewelry for yourself or a gift, I will work with you to see that your vision becomes a reality”

Kristina also has a blog where shares various excerpts of her life. She says, “In my blog, I talk about challenges that come up in my life as a mother to Muslim children.  I have been actively learning about Islam for over 5 years now and I talk about where that journey takes me.  I share recipes and resources as I find them, hoping to reach out to women and men who, like me, are finding it challenging to raise American Muslim Children with a strong sense of their beliefs.”

You can visit Kristina’s online shop at MyIslamicLife.Etsy.com and follow her experiences as a a non-Muslim in the U.S. learning about Islam, raising Muslim children, running a business and her other daily adventures at My Islamic Life’s Blog.

Photo credit: MyIslamicLife.Etsy.com