You may be aware of the fact that Harrow’s official motto is Salus populi suprema lex, translated as “the well-being of the people is the highest law” – which is something that was embraced by Roma Shukla, a former resident and business owner in our borough.
What brought you to Harrow?
I moved to the UK from my home in Mumbai in October 2019 and brought with me a whole suitcase full of plans and ambitions for a new life and career and began to seek employment in earnest.
How did Roma’s Hope come about?
Unfortunately, the arrival of COVID-19 meant that I struggled to find a job and, with a lot of time on my hands due to the lockdowns, I began to learn macrame online – something that I discovered gave me peace and kept my creative flame alive during those difficult times.
During 2020, I began hosting my products online and was delighted by the interest that I received. When the world began to reopen, I began to sell my macrame products at markets as an individual trader. This is something that I enjoyed tremendously as it gave me the opportunity to get out there and talk to people – those who appreciated the lost art of macrame and those who were curious about something new.
In fact, this venture became so successful that I represented London in the Young Traders Market Local in Leighton Buzzard in 2023, making it to the top 3 by virtue of which I made it to the regional heats in Hackney.
Making a connection in the community
Harrow became a special place for me and I very much enjoyed talking to Harrow residents about the processes for macrame – so much so that I began to conduct workshops in the Harrow Art Centre – a place which remains dear to me and, in fact, a piece of my macrame wall art proudly still decorates the walls of the venue today.
Hopeful plans for the future
Unfortunately, in July 2023 I had to take a break for health reasons and I moved back to Mumbai in January 2024. While it did take me some time to recover, I am not planning on leaving this journey so soon and I plan to rise once again even stronger and brighter.
Threads of hope in Harrow
Harrow has always embraced diversity and entrepreneurship and we look forward to seeing more of Roma in the future – in the meantime, her products are available on Etsy.
Nicci, born in Cumbria in 1971, moved to London at 17 to work for Mute Records. She has a diverse career spanning design, copywriting, and PR. Nicci is an author, freelance copywriter, and PR professional, with her own agency, Front Page Promotions. She covers historical stories for Harrow Online and has authored several books. She currently resides in Harrow, North West London
