For 17-year-old Suvera Dukhanti, based in Buccleuch, what started as a love of drawing henna designs has grown into a small business and a chance to share her creativity with others.

She is the entrepreneur behind Henna by Vera, creating custom designs for markets, special events, and celebrations. “I’ve always loved art, and turning my creativity into a business has been one of the most rewarding experiences,” she said.

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Her interest in henna began when she was 12 or 13 years old. She initially practised on paper, family, and friends before realising her hobby could become something more. “I realised I could use my passion for creativity to make people feel beautiful and confident,” she said.

Henna by Vera offers everything from simple and elegant patterns to detailed traditional and modern designs. Suvera said she also noticed how henna has evolved beyond its traditional uses and become increasingly versatile. “Traditionally, henna art was used for religious purposes, but now henna has been trending and has become so versatile for so many different people.”

For Suvera, the appeal is also in the temporary nature of the art. “The adorning of the henna art makes the wearer feel glamorous without the aspect of being permanent.”

Her journey into entrepreneurship began through school fundraising, where she discovered that her artistic talent could also provide a service that people enjoyed.

“One of my biggest challenges was building confidence in my own work. I often compared myself to experienced artists,” she said. “I overcame those challenges by practising consistently, accepting that every design helped me improve, and believing that progress is more important than perfection.”

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Her experience has also changed the way she views entrepreneurship. “To me, entrepreneurship means creating opportunities from something you genuinely love. I used to think it was only about making money, but now I understand that it’s about serving people, solving problems, being responsible, and growing through challenges. It’s a journey of creativity and resilience.

“Seeing a client smile after receiving a henna design makes every difficult day worthwhile.”

Nature, particularly the ocean and animals, is another source of inspiration, reminding her to remain calm, patient, and persistent. Adding another special dimension to her entrepreneurial journey is the fact that her sister, Alexis, is also building her own business.

Suvera said having a sister who understands the challenges of entrepreneurship has been a source of motivation. “It’s incredibly inspiring. Being able to watch my sister grow and succeed as an entrepreneur and as a person has motivated me to work harder and also grow my business alongside hers.”

Their shared entrepreneurial spirit has also been influenced by their upbringing. The sisters said their parents encouraged them to become self-sufficient and create their own wealth, while also recognising the changing world of work and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on various industries.

For Suvera, Henna by Vera is still at the beginning of its journey, but she has ambitions for it to become something bigger.

“I would hope to be able to build this hobby/business from a personal passion into a recognised brand that will provide a steady secondary income that keeps my creative joy alive while I pursue my career path,” she said.

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