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Beena Kannan
Passionate Career
Beena Kanan born on 17th July 1960 in Kottayam as the daughter of V. Thiruvenkitam and Mrs. Seetha Lakshmi Thiruvenkitam. She was born as the only daughter of her parents whose ancestors migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu. Originally from Andhra Pradesh, Seematti was founded by Late S.Veeriah Reddiar at Alappuzha in 1910. Her grandfather Veeriah Reddiar was a famous textile king who pioneered the fabric industry in the state. After receiving high school and University education, Beena joined the league of their family textile retailing business with her father in 1980. Addicted by the brand Seemati, Beena grow along with its development
She got married to her cousin and childhood friend Kannan in 1985. After delivering a happy life, Kannan left the world in 2000 leaving his wife and three children. It was a tough time for the young woman to rise from the challenging situations totally wrecked in darkness. Her mental power and self determination was much enough to rise from the difficult days and become a successful entrepreneur.
Taking the charge of the textile industry, Beena took some serious steps to be more professional devoting her entire time for its growth. The transformation of Seematti from a small saree store to one of the most popular fashion retailers in the state should be seen as the real hardwork and the extraordinary willpower put forward by Beena Kannan, the strong pillar behind its expansion. Beena has already become a powerful business icon and a real motivator for young women who are interested to make their own space in the arena. She travels to all parts of south India including the inner villages in Kachipuram to pay attention to the weavers who have exquisitely woven Kancheevaram sarees.
Beena – The successful business tycoon
Being a confessed workhoilc, the success of Beena Kannan is reinventing herself and her business. She faced the biggest challenge convincing the weavers to make innovations in designs. To make them aware about the need, Beena had to travel to some places which were even difficult to reach. She stayed with them and made them understand her ideas. As she succeeded in delivering her thoughts the entire village started working for her. The thick business bond with the villagers and Beena, every six months new ranges of saris would reach the outlets of Seematti. As people of Kerala are much choosy comparing to other southern states, wide ranges of stuff have to be presented before them.
Owning Seematti Silks, one of the most sought after textile chains in India, Beena is confident of reaching her business in new gulfs. Beena Kannan attracted attention as Seematti broke the record for the world’s longest Silk Sari. The sari with embroidery and meticulous handiwork was over half a kilometer long. With a total weight o 72.583 kg, the silk used in the crafting was around 57kg. The cost of making the saree was estimated to Rs 2. 04 Crore. The record breaking saree reflected the rich cultural legacy of India. The themes were varied and encompassed history, epics, folklore, myths, famous personalities, places and monuments of India. It also was credited with the Guinness Book of Records and Limca Book of Records in 2007certificates.
Being a popular wedding silk sari designer in south India, Beena has launched her sari designs in UAE and USA. The Coimbatore Erode Weaving community encouraged her with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. Beena designs bridal brocades with pearl-beaded gold and silver strands to beautify sarees. Specialised in Kancheepuram, Beena has explored the possibilities of other categories such as cotton, silk and lehangas. The Beena Kannan boutique gives prime importance to private collections and designs that can be worn for special moments.
Beena devotes her entire success to the customers are God who truly transformed her life. She has given prime focus on the sales team while they have been motivated to help the customers at any time. As women of the present century are well adapted to the fashion trends, it gives birth to innovative clothes. Beena is well supported by her two sons Gautham and Vishnu and daughter Thushara.
Her personal attention to brides and involvement in personalizing the bridal garments is a great bonus while shopping at Seematti. Being the face for undying professionalism and change in the bridal fashion industry, Beena Kannan is a good example of women empowerment.
The Indian fashion designer who draped Kanchipuram silk on the world map
Beena Kannan is one of the most talked-about fashion designers from South India. She is today carrying forward the legacy of her grandfather Veeriah Reddiar who started the family business of Kanchipuram silks in 1910. Today her brand ‘Seematti’ stands for the finest designer wedding silk saris and apparel for men.
Beena Kannan took the helms of Seematti at a fairly young age after the death of her father V. Thiruvenkitam and husband Kannan. It was the most difficult phase of her life – both emotionally and financially as the over 100-year-old family business was not doing well and the family was in debt.
Any other women in her place would have collapsed, but Beena decided to move forward with grit and determination.
Just three days after her husband’s death Beena took over the reins of the business. A few people at that time admired her courage, while many others made fun of her foolishness and predicted a gloomy future for Seematti in the hands of the inexperienced woman.
With practically no one to guide her, Beena decided to single-handedly breathe fresh life into the financially unstable empire and single-handedly put Seematti back on the world map. She took baby steps– saved every penny and spent carefully. She spent hours and years intensely studying the trends in the silk industry and established a good rapport with the silk traders all over the country.
Her sole aim is to create a niche for the indigenous Kanchipuram silk sarees across the globe and preserve this culture-rich ethnic fabric. She meticulously researched and designed innovative and distinctive motifs using rich silk yarns defining the quintessential traditional Indian bride.
This way moving forward one step at a time Beena Kannan not only revolutionized Seematti but also revolutionized the entire Kanchipuram silk industry!
Soon, she became one of the most acclaimed Kanchipuram silk saree designers in India.
Beena Kannan entered the Guinness Book of Records and Limca Book of Records in 2007 for the longest — half a km long silk sari created by her. Her saree designs were launched in the UAE and the US in 2007 and 2009 respectively. In September 2011, Beena Kannan-designer sarees walked the “Swarovski Elements 2011″ Ramp. She conferred with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Coimbatore Erode Weaving community in 2009.
Celebrities like Mandira Bedi, Urmila Matondkar, Sneha, Rima Kallingal, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez, Liza Haydon, Sameera Reddy and Sonali Bendre have been either ambassadors or showstoppers in Seematti’s communication and Fashion shows from 2006-2015.
Beena Kannan is now aiming to take Kanchipuram to new heights and open new doors across the globe for her label. Her eponymous label- ‘Beena Kannan’, features ethnic and timeless merchandise. She aims to showcase the charm of Kanchipuram through her designer collection featuring not just sarees but a diverse range of apparels and accessories for both men and women. In short Seematti’s vision is to be a one-stop-shop for the bride and groom for their wedding purchases under a single roof.
Beena Kannan truly believes that there is no point ‘chasing success. It will come to you if you are passionate about what you do.’
This is the mantra that has helped her retain her cool through the most stressful periods of her life.
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