Pakistan Eye Candy

For you textile and embroidery buffs, more eye candy from Pakistan. Hard to believe that mostly illiterate women create these bullion patterns in their homes.

Pakistan Planning

I had a great time in Pakistan this past week as I discovered new producer groups in Lahore and some absolutely beautiful embroidery called bullion. It looks like chunks of gold and beads elaborately decorated. This couple are the people who started their business to help women who were begging at their Mosque so that they could have jobs and not need to beg. I began design on a new line for high end hotels and event planners. Can't wait to see these designs and develop the rest of the line. We are working on the name of the new line but "incredible" is a great description for now. Here are some photos of the designs in detail and Renee our Bajalia buyer for that region. Renee and I were expecting to have a quick business meeting which wound up to be an all day affair, being invited to their home for lunch and reviewing and photographing all of the samples to begin designing from. I am loving Pakistan already, and we just started this project.

Asian Tour 2008

I am currently traveling on the continent of Asia visiting four countries- first India, then Pakistan, Thailand and China. The purpose of this trip is to visit the Bajalia production centers and check on progress of our orders as well as to develop new designs for orders for Holiday and spring 2009. Yes I said 2009- we have to work that far ahead now to serve our new wholesale clients and prepare for an upcoming trade show. This is a long trip and as I travel, I am still trying to manage issues in Orlando while being on the road, although I am very blessed to have a great team now to handle many areas I used to have to handle alone, there are still many areas that need my daily attention on both sides of the ocean.

Back in Kutch India

When I come back to Kutch India I always feel as if I have come home. This is where Bajalia Trading Company first became a reality and where the first seeds were planted. The women here seem like old friends and sisters. I love going into the villages and visiting the producers and looking at their new embroidery designs. I spent part of the afternoon taking photos of the kids and sharing them with them on my digital screen. A very great use of technology. Here are a few photos of the kids and my friends working proudly on the Kutchi Kolthi Bag for our clients.