Sunday, 19 February 2012

Looking for Brand Banna !


Wrapped up the first exhibition of the year on the 11th and 12th of February !
   
Exciting new line of products including a new range of Sarees in Silk and Silk cotton, Raw Silk and tussar Stoles in Multiple Colours  and lighter Cotton and Silk Cotton Stoles in Vibrant colours of spring.  New additions for the new year included hand embroidered stoles and dupatta’s , a new and exciting line of hand -made home décor and vibrant contemporary and ethnic jewellery.
Hand embroidered products are a favourite at Banna and we work with multiple products created using several different forms of hand embroidery.  We use  the Kasuti form of embroidery from North – Karnataka to create wall art, photoframes, home linen, boxes and a wide range of clutch purses. This is a form of embroidery that was traditionally done on sarees and is today being promoted in the form of more usable end- products.  In a similar manner products introduced this new year were those created using Kantha work ( a form of embroidery from the North- east of India) and traditional Chikankari from the North of India.  Products included stoles, dupatta’s , homelinen etc.  All these embroidered products are made by self – help groups comprising of women  who actively practice these forms of embroidery as a traditional skill and art form.
Our line of jewellery this time was a perfect mix of the casual and contemporary with shades of ethinicity.  Semi- precious stones of different types set to ethinic and contemporary designs and an interesting new line of casual jewellery using wooden beads in multiple colours.   This was perfectly matched with handmade bags.
The excitement of all the new products apart, the other exciting and heartening feature  at this first exhibition of 2012 was that almost everybody who walked in to buy products from us came in looking for “ Brand Banna” .  It has only been about six months since Banna started ! A hard, exhausting but invigorating six months and to find so many people coming to look for our brand and our products was very exciting … a confirmation , an affirmation that our hard work and humble attempts to build the brand , market our products and vision and values was bearing some fruit.  People calling us ( from having seen our facebook page and products thereof ) to ask about the exhibition, to ask about our products was indeed very heartening.  People following us on social media also made an appearance to take a look at what we had to offer.  We had people coming in to buy jewellery and sarees for the season ahead, people looking for simple and elegant hand- crafted gift ideas, eco- friendly products ( which is another signature line at Banna), our signature textiles and jewellery line etc.  There was also a general interest and curiosity amongst our regular buyers to understand the progress we have made in the last six months since we started both in terms of products we have added as well as our vision and how we see ourselves growing.




At Banna we retail mainly through our exhibitions which are held once every six weeks and through online sales.  Another welcome change this year has been the increase in the number of online enquires and sales all a small testimony to the fact that the Banna brand is slowly getting to be known …….. we hope to continue this trend as we take this year forward ! Some great new products being added, new exhibitions coming up shortly, finally a fully functional website and several workshops where artists and customers can connect directly to see understand and learn several art and craft forms …!!!!

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