Products and Trades

Products & Trades – Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

Products and Trades is a core segment of the entrepreneurial landscape in Pakistan—especially when viewed through the lens of women-led enterprises. This space represents more than just goods and services; it reflects heritage, creativity, and resilience. From intricately designed apparel to handcrafted home décor, women entrepreneurs across Pakistan are tapping into both local craftsmanship and global market needs.

This section of the MizLink Pakistan platform is dedicated to showcasing the wide range of products developed and traded by these women. Whether they operate out of homes, small studios, or full-scale workshops, these entrepreneurs play a significant role in Pakistan’s cottage industry, SME growth, and export readiness.

A Tapestry of Trades: Tradition Meets Innovation

Pakistan’s rich cultural history lends itself to a variety of trades, many of which women have historically contributed to behind the scenes. Today, women are stepping forward as designers, producers, and marketers of these goods.

They work with diverse materials—textiles, wood, metal, clay, glass, and natural ingredients—and produce for equally diverse markets: home décor lovers, wellness seekers, wedding shoppers, and fashion-forward clients, both at home and abroad.

From bridal apparel and pashmina shawls to candle art and handmade jewelry, each product category showcases a woman’s journey from idea to enterprise.

Products and Trades - List of Products

Apparel – The Flagship Category

Of all the products that women entrepreneurs engage with, Apparel remains the most successful and dominant. Whether it’s the seasonal lawn collections, formal wear, or bridal couture, fashion is a space where Pakistani women have made an undeniable mark.

This popularity stems from a few key factors:

Cultural alignment: The apparel market naturally aligns with women’s traditional strengths in tailoring and embroidery.
Scalability: Clothing ventures can start from home and scale upward through online platforms or boutique partnerships.
Export potential: Pakistani clothing, especially ethnic and bridal wear, is in demand among South Asian communities abroad.

Many women now create capsule collections or custom-made designs that combine traditional techniques like gota work, block printing, or mirror embroidery with contemporary cuts. These hybrid aesthetics attract a broad customer base, allowing women to serve both domestic and international markets.

Home-Based Trades – Expanding Opportunity from Within

Apart from apparel, several other categories have gained traction among women entrepreneurs—particularly those that allow them to work from home or in flexible environments. These include:

Candle making: Often starting as a hobby, it has evolved into a profitable trade. Women produce decorative and scented candles for weddings, home use, and gifting purposes.
Health and beauty: Many women create and market skincare or haircare products using organic and herbal ingredients. This sector has seen rising demand as consumers shift toward wellness and natural remedies.
Jewelry: Handcrafted pieces using silver, brass, beads, or semi-precious stones are popular. Jewelry making also supports traditional craftsmanship passed down through generations.

These trades benefit from low overhead costs, ease of customization, and access to niche markets.

From the Workshop to the World: Export-Ready Trades

Several women-led businesses have made the leap from local sales to export, especially in areas where cultural identity is central to the product. Items such as:

Pashmina shawls
Embroidered home textiles
Traditional jewelry
Designer furniture and décor

…are all export-worthy with some structural support—like understanding HS codes, packaging standards, and international buyer requirements.

In many cases, the production is a collaborative effort: a city-based entrepreneur coordinates with rural artisans to deliver the final product. This model not only creates quality goods but also empowers multiple women across the value chain.

Mini Case Scenarios – Stories of Impact

Scenario 1: From Drawing Room to Bridal Studio

Sadia, a mother of two in Karachi, began designing bridal wear from her drawing room. Initially serving only friends and family, she expanded through Instagram and now ships custom bridal outfits to clients in the UK and Canada. Her work employs three local women for embroidery and handwork.

Scenario 2: Candle Art that Lit Up a Career
Amna started making candles as therapy during a difficult time. Soon, people began requesting them as gifts. She set up a small workshop in Lahore and now supplies event planners with custom candle designs. She recently launched a website with seasonal collections and online ordering.

Scenario 3: Textile Entrepreneur Empowering Rural Women
Ayesha, a textile designer in Multan, partners with rural weavers to produce embroidered cushion covers and runners. By handling design and sales while empowering women artisans to manage production, she has created a successful home décor brand featured in lifestyle expos.

Digital Tools & Modern Tactics

Today’s successful entrepreneurs are combining traditional knowledge with modern business tactics:

E-commerce: Platforms like Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, and Daraz offer easy-to-use sales channels.
Online branding: Product storytelling, aesthetic photography, and customer reviews have become critical marketing tools.
Networking: Participation in trade shows, craft fairs, and government-led SME exhibitions gives exposure and helps build trade relationships.

Women are not only creating products—they’re also learning to manage supply chains, pricing strategies, branding, and customer service.

Why This Matters

Supporting Products and Trades is not just about economics—it’s about social transformation. Women who engage in productive enterprise gain confidence, independence, and influence within their households and communities. The income they generate helps fund children’s education, home improvements, and in many cases, the startup of other businesses.

At MizLink Pakistan, we believe these stories matter. They reflect a growing movement of women shaping their own futures, one product at a time.

What’s Next?

In the table above, you’ll find a basic directory of products crafted and traded by women entrepreneurs across Pakistan. Each item links to a dedicated page that offers more detail about the trade, the product’s potential, and the women behind it. From well-established sectors like apparel and jewelry to emerging categories like herbal skincare and candle art, the diversity of trades represented here is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of women in Pakistan.

For more inspiration, explore the Ideas from around the world section where we feature success stories, trends, and innovative product ideas drawn from global women-led ventures. And when you're ready to scale your business beyond borders, the Exporting from Pakistan page will walk you through the process—from understanding trade requirements to building international buyer connections.

Products and Trades - Ideas from around the world

For ideas from around the world we'll be adding fresh ideas from other parts of the world that our visitors can work with to develop their own products - in a fusion style ... a bit of foreign and a bit of Pakistani culture. From clothing to furniture to Knick Knacks for home décor.

Products and Trades - How to Export from Pakistan

To see how to go about Exporting your goods from Pakistan check on the link Exporting from Pakistan. This requires meticulous planning and execution. From deciding the HS-Code to procurement to stuffing quantities and shipment scheduling, each step is to be clearly understood and executed. Planning your exports like a project will assist in placing all the required resources within your reach so that you have smooth delivery of your products to the global markets.