Subhani Banu The Famous Beads Designer

Shubana in her showroom, doing
what she knows best

When I visited Shabab’s Chura Pasal located at Naxal, Chardhungel; I was so fascinated with Shubana’s creative brain. It was more than what I have heard of her creative work before I have entered in her showroom. After some talks they showed me some of their works. More I see more I admired her ability to convert colorful but lifeless beads into so lovely shapes and eye catchy designs. I asked her some simple questions to know the famous designer and she answered so willingly.  

How long you have been making beads ?

It's been more than twenty five years I have been running this store. Before that my father used to run it. So, I have been doing this ever since I was very young.

Q : Who taught you ?

A : It was our family business. So it's my parents who taught me. But they work only on plain beads making unlike me. For me creativity came naturally and more I made more it was liked by our customers.

Q : Do you teach beads making to others ?

A : Teaching is part of my job. I have been teaching it ever since I started looking this store.   I have taught it to many girls and women who did not even know how to handle needle and beads. But they have been still working with me. Now my daughter joins me in teaching our forty plus designers. She is also a very good beads designer.

Hair clip made my beads

Q : Who comes up with the new design for the next season or fashion ? are all your designs or they your workers also comes up with new designs ?

A : Me and my sister Sitara comes up the most complicated designs that comes up so naturally to us. My sister do not come to the store however she helps me up from her home. Now, even my daughter Shabab has come up with her own designs and that is very different than mine and my sister.

Q : Is there any particular designs that you are proud of coming up or that sells more than other ?

A : I take pride in most of our designs and most of what we come up have be well received by our customers until now so it's not that easy to pinpoint one particular design, in terms of both pride and sells wise.

Q : Do you have anything lasting memory about your design or career decision in your work line ?

Shabab [ Subhana's Daughter] with her staff,
helping them to understand
yet another designs from her

A : Fifteen years ago I woman name Milu Thapa approached me to take part in Teej exhibition. She used to see me daily working in my store, every day when she went to her office. I was not sure about taking part in any event and she also had no such experience in such exhibition before. We  took the chance and then decided to have one such event in Shangrila Hotel a week before Teej. What I remember is that day it was raining and the exhibition was at the garden of Shangrila Hotel. People came and I sold all my beads within three hours. I made 20,000 sales in that three hours. It was hard to believe. I have never ever seen such huge money. For me that twenty thousands was as huge as 20 lakh today. Since then, it's no looking back and I still take part in those exhibition every year and this year it will be 16th year I have been taking part in that kind of event. We still sale highest in teej time. Such sale and even was the milestone in my career as beads designer and that boosted my confidence so high.