Our Beginning

Clutchrose was founded by Kanwal Shabbir, an engineer by profession and an artist at heart.

After the birth of her son, Muhammad Yahya Junaid, Kanwal chose to step away from her professional engineering career to focus on her family. While she deeply valued her education and career, she also felt a strong desire to create something meaningful — something that would allow her to stay close to home while pursuing work that brought both joy and purpose into her life.

Inspired by Heritage

Her inspiration traces back to childhood.

Kanwal grew up watching her mother, Amber Shabbir (Chanda), create beautiful hand-embroidered pieces and handcrafted items with remarkable skill and dedication. Alongside her mother, her late phopho, Razia Bhatti, also possessed exceptional talent in embroidery and handicrafts. Their creativity, patience, and love for handmade art left a lasting impression on her young mind. What began as admiration slowly became a lifelong passion for hand embroidery and artistic expression.

Taking the First Step

Although passionate about art, Kanwal initially hesitated to turn her passion into a business. Questions filled her mind — Would it require large investments? A big team? Perfect conditions to begin? She spent considerable time reflecting and planning, unsure if the timing was right.

Everything changed when she heard a simple yet powerful line from a motivational speaker:

“Start ugly, start small.”

That moment reshaped her perspective. She realized perfection was not a requirement — starting was. Taking the first small step mattered more than waiting for ideal circumstances. She began by sourcing materials, creating designs, and taking her first practical steps toward building something of her own.

However, in the early phase of starting this journey, doubts still appeared. Having spent four years earning an engineering degree and building a strong identity as a career-oriented professional, she wondered whether shifting toward an artistic path would be understood by others. During this time, she shared her concerns with her best friend, Amna, who encouraged her with words that stayed with her:

“You studied engineering for four years, but you have many, many years of life ahead of you. Four years are very small compared to the life you still have. If you want to do something else, you should do it.”

This reassurance strengthened her confidence and helped her continue forward with clarity.

Growing with Purpose

Encouraged by her family throughout the journey, Kanwal moved ahead with determination. Her father, brothers, and sister Amal continuously motivated and supported her, while her husband, Muhammad Junaid Dar, remained a constant pillar of strength and encouragement through every stage.

In the beginning, Kanwal exclusively designed and hand-embellished each piece herself, carefully selecting color palettes, sourcing high-quality materials, and crafting every detail by hand. As Clutchrose developed and production expanded, she hired skilled artisans — including Safia and Fatima — who recreate her original designs using her pieces as models. Every clutch remains a signature Clutchrose design, personally conceptualized by Kanwal, while the artisans’ dedication and craftsmanship ensures the same premium quality and artistic vision.

Today at Clutchrose

Today, Clutchrose represents more than accessories. It is a story of courage, heritage, creativity, and small beginnings that grew through faith and persistence.

Kanwal remains deeply grateful to Allah ❤️, and to her family and friends whose love and support made this journey possible.