Local artist weaves community with handcrafted designs

Khin Phyu Phyu Khine, an artist from Myanmar who now resides in Durham, has been creating handmade crochet work since she was 16. 

Her work includes handmade bags, hand towels, pillows, clothing and other artisan handcrafted goods with intricate embroidery details. 

Besides crochet and embroidery, she also owned a dress design business in Myanmar and previously worked leading dress alterations at David’s Bridal after relocating. 

“All the time, 24 hours, I was just crocheting and sewing,” Khine said. “I was working so hard at 16 to learn this handmade stuff, not only to make women’s clothing, but I was also able to open my own store at 18 with my own money.” 

She said that her business in Myanmar not only included her crochet work, but also traditional Burmese clothing such as wedding dresses. While managing her own business, she also continued to pursue her own education, earning a degree in economics. 

Due to the civil war in Myanmar and the 2021 military coup, Khine was forced to resettle in the United States at 37. After relocating, she continued making handcrafted goods to sell from home. 

“When I first came here, I didn’t have anything,” Khine said. “I didn’t have fabric, I didn’t have a sewing machine, I didn’t have a car and I didn’t have a job, but one of my close friends gave me some of the stuff.” 

While continuing her business in the United States, she connected with a Burmese customer that introduced her to Refugee Community Partnership, a community development organization located in Carrboro. 

RCP is a grassroots organization working with refugee and migrant communities across central North Carolina. They provide a large variety of resources and services to migrant communities.

Ash Nuckols, development and communications manager at RCP, said that the organization is structured as a mutual aid network, providing interpretation, support and much more. 

“As many of our staff and volunteers are migrants and refugees as the people being supported, and because of that, we do a whole lot of stuff,” Nuckols said. 

Patrick Hance, the employment coordinator at RCP, provided support to help Khine find employment in the United States. 

Hance wrote in an email statement that he helps RCP members through the job search process, from enrolling in English classes and vocational training to finding better employment opportunities, all with the goal of improving their household incomes and working conditions. 

Khine said that after she relocated, she felt extremely lost and depressed. 

“I felt like I could not continue my business and my artwork that I had worked for so hard my whole life,” she said. “Then when I met Patrick and RCP, it gave me hope and encouragement.” 

Hance helped Khine find her previous job at David’s Bridal. In her spare time, Khine continued her own business at home. She previously had a shop on Etsy called Handmade by Polly, but currently only takes custom orders because of her new full-time job. 

Khine said that RCP has given, and continues to give, plenty of support, so she tries to give back to the RCP community however she can. 

At the final session of last year’s Afghan Women’s Sewing Group, a supportive space RCP organized for Afghan women to practice traditional crafts, Khine was a guest speaker. She shared her art with the women and spoke about her journey in creating her artisan business in the United States. 

Nuckols said that even though Khine and the Afghan women did not speak the same language, Khine was able to provide emotional support to women going through a similar experience of being a refugee.

“I really want to emphasize that she’s just so open and loving and excited to share back,” Nuckols said. “She shares about how she’s found support at RCP, and then she’s done so much to give back that same kind of support to other folks who are coming.” 

Khine emphasized that the experience of being a refugee in a new country is very difficult, and reaching out to support systems such as RCP is important. She also added that anyone who needs help can reach out to her by connecting with the RCP. 

Khine’s story reflects the importance of community, relationships and mutual aid for RCP. 

“I believe that the experience of working with Khin and all that she has been able to accomplish just goes to show that refugees have so much to offer their new homes, especially after barriers are removed,” Hance said. 

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