ARRIVING in Scotland as a refugee from Sarajevo, Jasna Memic beat the odds to found her own interiors business. Now the former IT worker is making the fight against coronavirus her business.
Memic is among the volunteer brigade of tailors, takeaways and other small business owners now using their skills to support the NHS in its efforts to control Covid-19 and care for its victims by making items of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Memic, who founded Little Plum Productions in Glasgow after retraining, is using her expertise to manufacture gowns and scrubs for nurses and doctors in clinics and hospitals.
She said: “So many people have helped me throughout the years, from when I came into the UK as a refugee to when I decided to change my career and start a new business. Now it’s my time to give back. It’s a no-brainer.
“I feel really privileged that I have a chance to do it.”
Memic arrived in Scotland in 1994. Living under siege in Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia, she worked in telecoms, transferring equipment from the top floors of buildings to the basement to protect telephone communication.
Once granted refugee status here, she worked in a pharmacy before gaining a qualification in IT and beginning a job in an architects’ office maintaining its computer system.
Memic decided to retrain in her late 40s and undertook an HND in furniture restoration at City of Glasgow College. She said: “My tutor was a great inspiration. He was always very enthusiastic and encouraging to all students, older and younger.”
Her business, which creates bespoke interiors and specialises in soft furnishings, is based in the city’s Maryhill district.
The entrepreneur got the idea for her PPE operation after speaking to her GP friend about the need for the items, which are crucial for protecting frontline workers.
The move comes after Covid-19 control measures forced “non-essential” businesses across the UK to close.
Memic said: “My friend told me there is a shortage of gowns that GPs can put over their own clothes when visiting high-risk patients at home.
“I realised lots of people are making scrubs but not many people are making gowns so I made a few and sent them to GPs who would wear them.
“They were delighted with the quality and asked me if I would make some more.”
“I wanted to focus on where I could help most rather than making masks for NHS workers which require a different level of protection.”
As Memic gets to work creating more gowns and scrubs for NHS workers, she explains that the task has reinforced her belief in the power of community.
“I have a few friends who can sew who said if I provided them with fabric they would happily stitch it together,” she said.
“It’s lovely because it’s giving us a sense of purpose. It’s not easy to be stuck at home if you’re not working – you feel so useless.
“To be able to contribute and help the NHS and their incredible staff is brilliant.”
Memic went on: “It’s only when we get to a situation like this that people give much more than they were even aware that they could. I think when we all work together we are so much stronger.”
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