mousume sarker on leaving bangladesh in the 90s, building an nyc community from scratch, and closing the east village print shop she's run solo for two decades
meet mousume sarker
meet mousume sarker
Mousume Sarker runs NY Copy, Print, and Ship Center — the store is an East Village staple, as is Mou (that’s what her friends call her — that, or Poppy, her other nickname). Her customers, many of whom have been frequenting the shop for decades, are so used to seeing Mou behind the counter that sometimes it takes them a minute to recognize her when they see her walking around the East Village. Mousume came to New York City in 1994 from Bangladesh when she was 22, and she’s built a community here that feels like family. Now, after working at the store full-time for almost two decades, Mou is preparing to close up shop this summer. Early in May, we talked with Mousume about embarking on this new chapter in her life, the importance of ritual, navigating the New York City school system, and more.
“I’ve always felt very connected with the goddess. I believe that women have inner power. Men have muscles that they can show off, but women have more power. You can’t see it, but you can feel it. Often, when you are spiritual, you can feel more than you see.”
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absolutely incredible interview ❤️🔥