We often admire those with the grit and dedication to make a business out of their interests while holding a full-time job. That’s already a challenge itself, but two particularly gritty sisters managed it on top of a painful battle with cancer.
Mastura and Masnisah Ja’afar (Mas and Nisah) are the enduring duo who started a personal project between day jobs and hospital visits.
They call it The C Project — representing their struggle with cancer and chemotherapy, countered by the joy they find in creativity and craft.
Now, when Mas comes home from her work as an accounts manager and Nisah as a UI designer, the sisters spend their nights making pins, patches, and other quirky things.
Before The C Project
Mas was diagnosed with immature teratoma in August 2014. It was a rare type of cancer, and the sisters had a hard time finding similar cases as they tried to learn about it.
This was when Mas started a blog titled The C Project to connect with others experiencing the same illness.
Speaking for her sister, Nisah explained that Mas started receiving treatment for a few months till they sought a second opinion when the condition recurred.
Doctors at NUH then said she had to go through intensive chemotherapy and blood transplants.
“Sometimes, Mas had to be in an isolated room for weeks before starting the next chemo session.”
On better days, she spent her time listening to music and watching sitcoms that eased her mind. She also got engrossed in researching about wearable crafts.
“One night when I came to visit Mas from work, she told me she wants to turn my illustrations into something people can wear,” Nisah says, “and she was very determined to do it.”
After experimenting with different materials, Mas and Nisah launched and sold their first enamel pins in 2016.
A Strong Sister Team
Throughout sickness, recovery, and work, the sisters leaned on each other.
No matter how hectic things got, Nisah says she had to stay healthy as she couldn’t be near Mas if she fell sick.
Trips to the hospital sometimes caused Nisah to be late or to miss work. However, she’s thankful for an understanding boss, supportive friends who helped keep Mas company, and their mum who visited with home cooked meals.
Despite being the one in pain, Mas also looks out for her sister.
“She has always been very independent, trying to make it as easy as it can be to care for her in those hard times,” Nisah says.
When it comes to working on The C Project, they complement each other by doing what they’re individually best at. Nisah creates all the illustrations; Mas handles orders, social media, and all the nitty-gritty.
“We know our respective roles well and it keeps us always in sync.”
The pair has learnt to be patient and not to overwhelm each other. Mas shares that the key to their strong relationship is forgiving easily.
“We never go to sleep angry with each other,” she says. “We’ll have a big fight in the morning, but before the day ends we’ll hug it out, laugh about how stupid it was, and bear no grudges.”
Pin Stories
Nisah tells me about a special collection dedicated to Mas, called ‘Anatomy Bloom’.
“The different body parts are black to represent Mas’ body going through cancer; the roses symbolise her health blooming again.”
When Mas was declared cancer-free for a year, they remade the collection in white.
Then on a playful note, Nisah goes on to share another pin story about her most fun collection, ‘Paranormal Summertime’.
“I have a fear of paranormal creatures, so I decided to make them look cool, like they’re partying in the summer,” she says.
“Now these beings don’t seem so scary anymore. I would totally hang out with Tropical Witch!”
Reaching Out To Others
Although their designs represented Mas and Nisah’s personal experiences, they soon discovered that they resonated with others too.
For instance, the lung anatomy pins touched sufferers of cystic fibrosis. Knowing this, the sisters took the opportunity to contribute to organisations combating the disease.
They have also made collections with other causes in mind. Their #GRRRPWR set features powerful women in pop culture, and a part of sales is donated to Women for Women International.
By now you may have guessed – Mas and Nisah are huge fans of pop culture from music and tv shows. These inspirations can be seen in their creations, and makes them easy for anyone across the world to relate to.
Last year, The C Project flew all the way to Los Angeles to join other pin makers at a pop-up event. They were blown away to meet fans from the US who’d been following their brand on Instagram.
One of their pins was even noticed by Brian Tyree Henry of the American comedy series, Atlanta. Nisah and the actor both share an admiration for the show’s creator, Donald Glover.
While Nisah gushes that she made a pin of Donald Glover so she could wear him wherever she went, Brian Tyree has also shared in this interview that he wears the pin of his idol over his heart.
“When we saw him wearing our pin in some interviews, that was pretty dope!” Nisah says.
Making More Waves
With everything they’ve been through, from fighting cancer to juggling full-time jobs and The C Project, our tenacious ladies show no sign of slowing down.
Nisah shares that they’re working on expanding their products with more accessories, t-shirts and socks. “We also want to do more collaborations with other brands and charitable organisations,” she says.
The sisters believe that faith, positivity and supportive loved ones are what helped them overcome the tough times. Mas candidly tells us, “Yes, it’s extremely hard when your body seems to always be giving up on you.”
“But in times of pain when you’re hopelessly distraught, you have to push on and not let the negativity triumph.”
Coming this far, Mas and Nisah remember that The C Project was created to connect with people, and they’ll continue to share their experience through it.
Take a look at their heartfelt creations here.
