When Heena Patel hoisted a pair of knitting needles during her pregnancy in 2013, she didn’t know she was starting a movement. Bored of low-quality babywear and yearning for a calming creative outlet, she began crafting tiny sweaters for her twins. That quiet pastime soon turned bold. After her first breakthrough order from a major kids’ store, she founded Magic Needles. 

From a one-woman home venture, Magic Needles has grown into a Rs 8.5 crore handmade brand-and-community operating globally across 35+ countries. Heena’s real vision, however, lies beyond revenue: empowering women. Over 300 women - many from disadvantaged backgrounds - now craft, design, manage and lead within the company, finding financial independence and confidence.

Magic Needles also champions slow, sustainable fashion, offering handcrafted pieces made with premium yarns and long life cycles - an antidote to fast fashion’s waste. From that simple pair of needles to a global crafting ecosystem, Heena’s journey shows how a personal passion can empower others and rewrite the rules of business.