Leicester student's T-shirts challenging views about Muslims are a global hit
When medical student Umair Khan started making slogan T-shirts to challenge negative views about Muslims, he did not expect more than a few orders in the UK.
But his idea proved so popular it is now a global business, with orders coming in from Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, America, Australia, Canada and across Europe.
The T-shirts have slogans which aim to convey positive messages about Islam, such as "Terrorism Hijacked My Religion", "I'm a Tourist, Not a Terrorist", and "Islam – 0% APR", in reference to the interest-free ideology of Islamic banking.
The demand for the T-shirts has been so great Umair's Design Molvi business, which started as a four-person team in the UK, has opened a second office in Pakistan.
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Umair, who is in his final year of a medical degree at the University of Leicester, said he was amazed and pleased at how successful the business had become.
The 23-year-old, who lives in Scraptoft, Leicester, said: "It's such a contemporary topic.
"We are trying to challenge those stereotypes."
Umair, who was born in Pakistan and moved to the UK 11 years ago, said: "When we started, we were just thinking we would sell them in the UK.
"But people started to ask if we could ship to this country, then another and suddenly we were getting orders from all over the world.
"It was a pleasant surprise and very encouraging."
Umair's project was helped with a bursary from Enterprise Inc, which gives students or recent graduates looking to start a business in the East Midlands up to £2,500 in funding and business start-up support.
He is keeping the project in the family, with his brother and co-founder, Ammar, setting up operations in Pakistan and their cousin, Ibrahim, marketing the product.
Volunteers have been brought on board to help with social media and design.
Following the success of the T-shirts, the company has launched a line of hats, bibs and other baby clothes.
Umair said he wanted to add mobile phone covers and accessories within the next year.
Although Umair plans to pursue a career in medicine once he finishes his degree, he said he was keen to keep going with Design Molvi in his own time.
He said: "I am passionate about both. It's just about time management and delegation."
Irene Zempi, a tutor at the University of Leicester's department of criminology, has published research on hate crime towards veiled Muslim women.
She said the T-shirts were an effective way of challenging people's misconceptions.
"Design Molvi is a very innovative way to tackle Islamophobia," she said.
"It is refreshing and encouraging to see students addressing anti-Muslim prejudice in such an intelligent manner.
"This idea is inspiring and, hopefully, it will contribute into dispelling myths surrounding Islam and Muslims."
www.designmolvi.com
Comments
by BudakBrBlajar
Monday, November 19 2012, 9:59PM
“Just to let u guys know, he is British. Not English, but British. And he is not a Pakistani, nor he is from Pakistan either. His homecountry has always been here, in England.
No burkha?hmm, can u say the same about people wearing crosses :)
Remembrance day. To remind you of the history, it is meant to commemorate the fallen BRITISH soldiers who fought in both WWI and WWII, for the BRITISH empire. With all due respect, they have the right not to wear a poppy on the day because essentially because of the aforementioned truth :) to top that all, many of them came from countries (read: Pakistan, India, and many other Asian countries) which have previously been invaded by the British empire. Isnt it irony to tell them to celebrate the day when they had their countries' freedom and sovereignty taken away in the first place? :) Having said that, I do respect the soldiers and their contribution to the freedom that we have today.
Profit from this tee shirts stays within the family? Well, it is his business afterall isnt it :)
Hope these will answer some of the 'yeah-i-know-everything-about him' and 'i-dont-care-I-will-continue-to-hate-Islam-no-matter-what' remarks :)
~peace be upon u”
by rammite
Monday, November 19 2012, 12:32AM
“Can you just imagine wearing pro-Christian T-Shirts in Pakistan and the UAE??? Or would they be made of Kevlar???”
by philly
Friday, November 16 2012, 8:35PM
“just another government implemented report to make it look like we are racist, when in fact the government are the one`s making us , not racist, but anti-foreigner, and if your clever enough , the two words ARE different.”
by karinfall1955
Monday, November 12 2012, 11:00PM
“@Sansue. Fail to see a real comparison there. You can exchange a smile (the universal language of friendship) whilst wearing a cross..”
by MrBud
Monday, November 12 2012, 10:11PM
“Any news about Muslims doing something good or bad, every 1 has to add there comments!!
Aleast he's trying to do something and not wasting his life like others.”
by sansue
Monday, November 12 2012, 9:21PM
“"Don't worry sansue, I never counted you in the 4.5 billion. The figure doesn't recognise anyone with limited understanding of my posts..........."
That discounts most of us.........................”
by BluearmyBOB
Monday, November 12 2012, 9:19PM
“Hope your not expecting to make a Prophet from this venture....... I'll get me coat ;) Saying that I can't see you retiring early with this venture but good luck. Everyone has to start somewhere”
by DBLeicester
Monday, November 12 2012, 9:14PM
“prog_rock_fan - ''You have every right to be offended.''
Thanks for clearing that up, I was beginning to wander!”
by DBLeicester
Monday, November 12 2012, 9:09PM
“sansue - ''Wow. Taking Bush's "you are either with us or against us" to the extreme! Are you seriously suggesting that if you aren't a Muslim then it means you are against it? I'm not a muslim and I'm not against it.''
Don't worry sansue, I never counted you in the 4.5 billion. The figure doesn't recognise anyone with limited understanding of my posts and those who make ridiculous assumptions.”
by sansue
Monday, November 12 2012, 6:53PM
“"''islam - Over 1.5 billion like this'' - what would the reaction be to ''islam - Over 4.5 billion don't''"
Wow. Taking Bush's "you are either with us or against us" to the extreme! Are you seriously suggesting that if you aren't a Muslim then it means you are against it? I'm not a muslim and I'm not against it.”