“Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations,” as the saying goes, such is the struggle of life. Determination, patience, and an iron will are necessary to achieve your dreams and ambitions.”
Follow us as you will explore the success story of Maria Butt, the genius behind Maria Butt, which is the symbol of elegance and innovation in Pakistan’s landscape of style and fashion. Her journey from a small, home-based business to becoming the founder of Pakistan’s leading clothing brand is a testament to her talent, determination, and relentless pursuit of success.
The Girly’s Early Life
Maria Butt was born in Karachi and has always been interested in fashion. She graduated from the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD), solidifying her aim of starting her brand.
1997 International Award
Maria’s keen interest in fashion has allowed her to achieve multiple awards in the fashion industry of Pakistan. The most prominent award she received was two years before the start of her brand, the 1997 International Fashion Designing Competition in Belgium.
The Inception of Maria B. Brand
She founded the brand Maria B, derived from her name, in 1999, and at the time, she had a single retail outlet. Maria believed that retail was a new fashion era, so she took it upon herself to become the first professional designer in the country. The stitching unit the brand used was small, too, but Maria’s enthusiasm led to what Maria B is today.
Struggles and Life Crisis
In the early 2000s, due to personal issues, Maria divorced her husband, a businessman much older than Maria. At the time of the divorce, Maria already had a three-year-old daughter.
Business at All-Time Low
Though Maria was prepared for what would come after the divorce, the reality was much more complex than anticipated. Her business was at an all-time low, and without her husband to financially support her, the economic state of Maria and her industry was challenging.
Her parents, as a gesture of love, saw their daughter struggling and offered to raise Fatima, her daughter, to reduce the stress she was going through. She had already decided to raise her daughter and stood firm in her statement.
Lived as a Tenant
The economic state of the business pushed Maria to live in a rented home for 20 years, and as she described, it was the most extended and challenging period of her life. Due to the plummeting state of her business, she came across conditions where she could not pay her employees.
Maria was selfless in keeping her employees’ right to wage before her own, stating, “Our employees are our responsibility.” This is one of the reasons she is seen in high regard from her employees’ point of view.
Her Father’s Unwavering Support
Maria’s siblings were abroad at the time, as she mentioned in a podcast, so it was her parents and her in the city. Her father shed a gleaming ray of hope when he sold his private residence and used the amount he received to boost Maria’s business. Maria was unaware of her father selling the property and came to know much later when her father invested. The divorce took a toll on Maria; as she describes, it was a long and slow process that was mentally disturbing. It took a while for her to realize what her father had done for her.
Pressure from Fashion Mafia
Maria stabilized herself and her business, establishing herself as the game changer in the fashion industry. Although her competitors from the “Fashion Mafia” called her a local designer, she overcame her challenges, being coined the “Coco Chanel of Pakistan” by a prominent fashion magazine.
Journey of Legacy
In a podcast, Maria stated that her first lawn emerged around 15 years ago when she had a single designer assisting her with her collection. Due to the expansion of the business, she now has multiple collections, and a team of designers is being trained, which will eventually take over the design task. This is her approach to continuing her brand and leaving her legacy.
Her Brand’s International Reach
Maria B. is currently spread across Pakistan, selling various fashion items. The company also offers purchases from its online website as well as exporting its products overseas, including to countries such as:
- India
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Bangladesh
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
Final Words
The road to success is never an easy one, and the story of Maria proves it. The challenges that come with raising a business, coupled with personal issues, are a daunting task. Still, as Maria claims, her mother’s strong determination made her go through the challenges she had faced throughout her life.
Maria says that if given another chance, she wouldn’t change a single thing, as the challenges she went through made her and her brand what it is today. The story of Maria should be inspiring for many young entrepreneurs, male and female.
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