Seanbhothar with Anya Aseeva

Anya Aseeva who hails from Russia moved to Ireland in 2014. With an (MA) in Economics and Politics and a knitter at a young age, Anya set up a company called Seanbhóthar in Clonbur in County Galway. Anya designs nature-inspired knitting patterns. She starts with an inspiration, then knits a sample herself to see if the pattern works. She then writes down the pattern and gets it tech edited and test knitted by another person. Photographs are then produced and pattern goes for sale on www.seanbhothar.com.

‘I have always loved knitting. Nature and nature writers like Kathleen Jamie inspire my work.’

The product is aimed at knitters of all ages. Anya set up the online shop in January 2019 and she now has four patterns for sale.

Anya says: ‘The EMPOWER Programme helped me gain confidence. It also helped me develop the basic skills to start my own business. The support network has been amazing. For an immigrant like myself who has no connections here, the EMPOWER Programme has given me the resources to tap into, and the people I can ask for help from.’

Website: www.seanbhothar.com.