Meet Sabika Naqvi | Co-Founder of Little Chirya

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabika Naqvi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabika, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business was driven by both need and passion. As a parent, I found it challenging to find baby clothing that was both gentle on my children’s skin and environmentally sustainable. I wanted soft, durable, eco-friendly fabrics in subtle colors without distracting prints or logos on onesies. I saw a gap in the market for simple, elevated baby clothing that felt special.

Beyond the clothing itself, I wanted each product to offer a memorable experience. I envisioned a beautifully packaged item, so when a mom or dad opened it, they felt a sense of excitement and care, not just like opening another ordinary package. We dedicated countless hours to sourcing the perfect fabric and color palette, along with late nights refining our packaging until it felt just right.

With my background in accounting, I had the skills to build something meaningful. But my love for my children and the values I wanted to share with them truly inspired me to take the leap. Little Chirya was born from a desire to create high-quality bamboo clothing that parents could trust, combining my love for family with a commitment to leaving a positive mark on the planet, however small. Even the brand’s name, Little Chirya, holds a special significance. It was inspired by my daughter, who fluttered from one spot to another like a little bird. “Chirya,” meaning “bird” in Urdu, felt like the perfect name to capture the spirit of joy and freedom that she brought to our lives.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There’s so much to share here! To start, Little Chirya is a minority-owned, woman-owned brand, and as a Pakistani woman, it’s meaningful to be part of a smaller but growing group of businesses led by women from my background. From the moment I conceived of Little Chirya, I wanted to create something that not only I could be proud of but that my kids would look at one day and feel proud of, too. I want my daughter to see her mom building this and know she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.

Every detail of Little Chirya has been crafted with care after countless hours of planning and refining because I believe wholeheartedly in our products. What sets us apart is our focus on simplicity and quality—soft bamboo pieces for little ones in beautiful, understated hues, carefully and thoughtfully packaged. While many brands drop new designs constantly, encouraging endless purchases, we aim to create timeless, versatile pieces that parents will love and that their children can wear in any season. We stay true to this approach, valuing quality over quantity.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is not to let setbacks define my journey. Each challenge has taught me something valuable, and while Little Chirya will continue to grow and evolve, we will always stay true to our vision and purpose.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many places to explore both OTP and ITP, and Georgia has something for everyone! For this itinerary, let’s plan a weekend that’s perfect for parents with toddlers, keeping my bestie’s visit both fun and family-friendly:

Friday: Start with breakfast at Daily Chew for delicious ricotta hotcakes or avocado tartine. After breakfast, we’ll work it off with a short nature walk at Morningside Preserve—a favorite with toddlers, dog owners, and anyone who loves a bit of greenery. Just a mile away, Piedmont Park is perfect for more outdoor time and people-watching. For lunch, we’ll head to Little Rey for some of the best-smoked chicken and toddler-approved queso! After a midday break, we’ll spend the afternoon at the Old Fourth Ward, where there’s a fantastic skate park and playground, followed by a walk along the Beltline that both kids and adults enjoy. For dinner, we’ll go to Varuni Napoli, where they make fresh pizzas in a fire pit right in front of you—always a hit with both kids and adults!

Saturday: We’ll start the day at East Pole Coffee for some of the best coffee and breakfast sandwiches around. Then, it’s off to the Alpharetta Greenway for a shaded morning walk. For lunch, we’ll visit Food Terminal with its extensive food and drink menu—and a bonus for the kids: robots serve your food! After some downtime back in the city, we’ll wrap up the evening in Buckhead for dinner. There are so many great spots here, like Gypsy Kitchen, Storico Fresco, and Le Bilboquet.

Sunday: We’ll finish with some of Atlanta’s best attractions. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is perfect if we’re in the mood for something outdoorsy, while the Georgia Aquarium is fantastic for seeing beluga whales up close. Zoo Atlanta offers a chance to see animals in a naturalistic setting, or for an interactive experience, we could visit the Children’s Museum. And finally, Fernbank Museum near Decatur has rotating exhibitions that are always engaging.

Atlanta has so much to offer, from great food to beautiful parks and exciting attractions—whatever you choose, it’s hard to go wrong!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This is a tough one because there are so many people who have helped Little Chirya become what it is today. However, the person who has been at the core of it all is my husband, Mohsin. He’s been my biggest supporter, always cheering me on from the sidelines and keeping me grounded through every high and low. Whenever I wanted to discuss even the smallest details—like the texture of a fabric or the exact styles for our packaging—he would listen with genuine interest and help me work through it when I needed to bounce ideas off someone. (The number of Pantone shades I made this man look through for our first line was unbelievable, but he showed up with so much enthusiasm every time). He’s also been there to lift my spirits whenever we faced setbacks, reminding me of our vision and the purpose behind what we’re building.

Building a brand from scratch has brought its fair share of challenges, and we’re still very new, learning and evolving each day. But Mohsin’s positivity and resilience have been a guiding light. He approaches each experience, success or failure, as an opportunity to learn, and that mindset has been invaluable for me both personally and professionally. His unwavering belief in the brand and in me keeps me moving forward, especially on the days when the journey feels daunting. In many ways, Little Chirya is as much a product of his support as it is of my vision. I am deeply grateful for his presence, encouragement, and partnership; there’s truly no one I’d rather have by my side on this journey and in life.

Website: https://www.littlechirya.com

Instagram: @littlechirya

Other: littlechirya on Tiktok

Image Credits
Image Credits: All Photographs with baby models are captured by: Kylee Ann, instagram: @kyleeanncommercial
Image Credits: Photo of Mohsin & Sabika: Peter Horton, instgram: @peterhortonphoto