WABBANI, an interior décor company with a vision of promoting self-sustainability, has made its way into Heritage Village.

Though just one year in the business, the company caused quite a stir while at the Village, attracting many to its booth, as it is well nigh impossible to pass by the elaborate designs without being drawn in and wanting to find out more.
Programme Coordinator Shamir Khan gave quite an insight on just what the craft company is all about. He explained that many persons tend to look at certain items and say that they are lifeless or bland, but the craft company aims to show them that with just a little vision, everything can be beautiful.

They work on creating hand-crafted pieces that would give the home a more personalised

look; simple things like basketry inserts with a smooth finish, so persons could use it for their kitchen cupboards, cabinets and recessed doors. In addition to handwoven basketry, the company also makes cotton lampshades, cowhide chairs and stools; doors and tables made of ‘Mucru’, and knobs made of river clay. Khan said the idea behind the river-clay knobs is to use kiln-dried earthen materials to make modern, everyday items. “We have clay knobs. This is all made from river clay; this is all hand-made as well. Eversley Austin from the Burrowes School of Art came and taught us how to prepare our clay; how to process it. And then he made us moulds, so now we can make more moulds, and more neat,” Khan said.

The objective of the company, he said, is not only to share the talent of the persons in it, but to also develop the community in which they operate, and give persons there the opportunity to be able to develop themselves.

“One of our missions is that the revenue generated can go back into the community that has been participating with us, for the collective benefit of us all,” Khan said, adding: “In our community, jobs are very minimal. A lot of persons in our community would leave and go out looking for jobs; many of them leave their families, and it puts a strain on the family.

“So, right now, with the Wabbani jobs, we get to keep family together. Of course, we do not have the opportunity to help everyone, but those who are interested in craft, we accommodate as many of them as we can.” Wabbani, the company, has been in operation for just over a year, and has already been able to assist many of the families within the area to obtain gainful employment.