Creating a unique business opportunity

Juliana Hughes is part of a rapidly growing industry of local craft producers but her distinct talent lies in utilizing seeds and beads from our natural resources

By Venessa Deosaran

Juliana Hughes uses seeds such as buck bead – also known as Job’s tears – donkey eye, powis eye seeds, cokrite, awara or flamboyant – also known as shak shak seeds, which are combined with copper wire bending art, and some with semi precious stones, to create unique jewellery craft.

The slender grace of bamboo, the splendour of wood, and the durability of the coconut shell also combine to give a unique look for those who want to stand out. She said it gives her pleasure when she can bring out the beauty of Guyana’s natural resources.

Hughes and her husband, Wesley George, opened their business Jah Works, which she describes as Guyana’s most unique arts and crafts business for tourists and locals.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, she declared they take pride in producing high quality, one-of-a-kind products that customers would always cherish as heirlooms.

Some of Jah Works’ pieces have been showcased in Barbados at the Amateur Model search, a mother and daughter pageant, and other similar shows. Jah Works is a family oriented business, focused on a legacy from generation to generation.

Hughes grew up in New Amsterdam, Berbice and always observed the freedom her father possessed working for himself as a mechanic.

Hughes wanted to be her own boss and to possess that freedom. At the tender age of 15, Hughes had her first child, which presented many conflicts with her family.

“Due to conflicts I moved out and lived along the Berbice River. This introduced me to a new way of life. I developed an appreciation for nature and what it offered. I started teaching, and was then transferred to Georgetown where I taught at various nursery schools. Later, I worked with the Guyana Transport – that time it had the big buses. I was then self-employed for a while selling snacks.

“One day while selling snacks at an insurance company, I was offered a job to sell insurance. I accepted and was later transferred to my hometown when the company opened a branch there. I resigned from there because I don’t work for others for very long as I wanted that freedom being self-employed. I opened a business in New Amsterdam selling dry goods. I would also knit and sell my craft, but then I started encountering some problems. Many persons stopped purchasing from me because I embraced the Rastafarian faith,” Hughes revealed.

Embracing the Rastafarian faith, Hughes and her present husband decided that they should move to another country. They moved to Suriname where Hughes continued her knitting but incorporated features of her religion such as the colours red, gold and green, which everyone became fascinated with and purchased in large quantities.

Hughes and her husband soon joined Congonya, a Rastafarian group that has travelled extensively in Suriname, Brazil and French Guiana, teaching music and learning the ways of indigenous communities in those countries.

“I was the only woman with 10 men, and travelled extensively throughout the Caribbean. We toured 13 states in Brazil, and there I saw how the craft is being marketed there. There is a special market for craft and that is what we need here in Guyana. A market solely for craft; and by this we can afford to make a living,” she said.

Learning the craft and developing their creative skills, Hughes and her husband were homesick and decided to return to Guyana in 2004. Coming back to Guyana, it was difficult for Hughes and her husband to secure jobs. They decided that they would venture into their own business. As she was walking one day in Georgetown, she saw the “brown seeds” which were used in Brazil to make the craft accessories and decided she and husband would gather other types of seeds to make jewellery. This saw the birth of Jah Works.

Jah Works saw its recognition in the Guyana Gift and Craft Show held at Sophia in 2007. Hughes said the exposure helped to develop her company and so she continues to exhibit at various exhibitions including GuyExpo so that she can continue to promote her craft.

“Buck beads grow wild here but in other countries they are sold at expensive rates. I must say my husband has a lot of patience with this because every tiny seed has to be pierced so that we can get our designs. The challenge we face is that in Guyana we are a more gold oriented people. We have appreciation for craft but not local craft. People think these coming from abroad are better than ours but we have the best in Guyana.” Jah Works is located at the side entrance of Rayon House of Fashion on Robb Street, and has a wide array of beaded accessories.

The company also has a Facebook page: Jah Works. Hughes stated she wants Jah Works to be a household name, contributing to green initiatives and maintaining Guyana’s natural beauty and way of life. (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)